This archive report was first published on 25 October 2021.
Less than two weeks after Masten Wanjala's tragic death, his family has made a shocking decision: they will not be burying his body. The family's spokesperson revealed their concerns, stating that burying Wanjala's body would bring a curse not just upon the immediate family but also to the whole clan.
According to the family, they are afraid that if they bury Wanjala, they, as a clan, might be perceived as killers. This is a stark contrast to their earlier stance, when Wanjala's father, Robert Watila, requested the state to release his body so that they could bury him.
On October 20, 2021, a postmortem was conducted on Wanjala's body, but no family member was present. The family had previously raised concerns over the circumstances that led to Wanjala's escape from Jogoo Road Police Station and his eventual lynching.
It is alleged that Wanjala managed to escape custody after blending in with curfew violators, who were being released upon parting with 'something small'. Three police officers have been charged with the escape and have been freed on Sh300,000 bond or Sh150,000 cash bail.
