This archive report was first published on 13 June 2020.
On June 13, 2020, a tense standoff unfolded in Kolwa East, Kisumu County, as Abeny Jachiga's family members attempted to protect his grave from irate fans who sought to exhume his body.
Abeny Jachiga's mother, Monica Auma, and widow, Belinda Aluoch, lay on the grave, a desperate measure to prevent the fans from digging up the late musician's remains.
The family's actions came after police had secretly buried Jachiga at 2:30 am at his Chiga home, despite local protests against the night burial.
Locals had blocked the planned burial on Friday, forcing the police to return the body to the mortuary. However, the authorities waited until the youth camping in Jachiga's home had left before bringing the body back and burying it under tight security.
According to eyewitnesses, only Jachiga's brother, Austin Omondi, was allowed to witness the burial, which was carried out by police in plain clothes and a group of bouncers.
Locals were outraged by the police's actions, claiming that Jachiga did not deserve a night burial, as Luo traditions dictate that only those who die by suicide are buried in the dead of night.
One of the mourners was heard saying, 'Jachiga did not commit suicide, he died after a short illness. We want to exhume his body and give him a decent send-off that befits his stature.'
Out of respect for Jachiga's elderly mother, the mourners refrained from immediately exhuming the grave, instead watching as Auma and Aluoch sat on the grave, with Auma warning the mourners, 'You want to kill me! Don't exhume my son's body.'
