Late Kibra MP Ken Okoth’s family has abandoned an earlier plan to conduct Luo traditional rituals following the cremation of his body on Saturday.
Okoth’s mother Angeline Ajwang and other members of the family who were against the cremation of the departed MP were on Monday set to carry out a traditional ritual where a banana stem would be buried to symbolize the interment of the deceased’s body.
The family on Monday ditched the plan and agreed to conduct a prayer service at Okoth’s maternal home in Kabondo Kasipul, Homa Bay County.
The decision was arrived at after a visit to the homestead by Suba South MP John Mbadi, who is also the Chairman of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party and National Assembly Minority Leader.
Mbadi, who was accompanied by Kasipul MP Eve Obara, held a closed-door meeting with sections of Okoth’s family members who agreed to reconcile after differences on the mode of sendoff for the late politician.
Some members led by his mother insisted that Okoth must be buried while others supported the deceased’s wish to be incinerated.
Okoth succumbed to colorectal cancer on July 26th, a day after he was admitted to Nairobi Hospital in critical condition. His body was cremated at Kariakor Crematorium in Nairobi last Saturday.
Journalists continue…
Journalists continue reporting what they want, not the truth,which is completely against any ethics. The tradition calls for planting (not burying) a tree (and that can include banana stem) in remembrance of the departed. We have done that many times, even when there is a grave.