This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
On June 14, 2020, the Ministry of Health issued a clarification on COVID-19 burial protocols in response to numerous incidents where victims were buried at night amid protests from family members and locals.
Director-General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, emphasized the need to be cognizant of cultural practices and assured that the Ministry will issue new protocols to the counties.
Dr. Amoth stated, "If a culture dictates that we don't bury at night, please hold on for another 12 hours so that the burial is held the following day," during a tour of Othaya in Nyeri County.
The assurance follows a burial in Kisumu, of a popular Ohangla musician Abenny Jachinga, who was buried at 2am Saturday, after an earlier burial aborted as residents protested that it was hurried, prompting chaotic scenes.
More than 1000 mourners who had gathered for the burial on Friday were teargassed by police after youths pelted officers with stones.
The family accused the county government of Kisumu of hurrying the burial of the musician "without justification" and said locals who had lost their kin had not been forced to bury their kin within 48 hours.
