This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
On May 15, 2020, Tony Waswa, the Personal Assistant to Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi and brother to Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, passed away after a short illness at the Aga Khan hospital. However, the manner in which his burial was conducted has raised eyebrows on social media.
Photos of the burial, which took place in Bungoma County, show the casket being handled by people wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and covered in nylon papers. The strict measures taken during the burial have sparked speculation that Waswa may have died from the Coronavirus.
As the burial continues, social media has been filled with claims that two of Tony's sisters have been placed under quarantine in a KMTC in the region. It is believed that Wetangula ordered the quarantine, although KDRTV has not independently verified these reports.
Many have questioned the Ministry of Health's handling of COVID-19 deaths, particularly in cases where the deceased are from affluent backgrounds. The photos of Waswa's burial have sparked a heated debate on social media, with some users questioning the measures taken to handle his casket.
"How do you disinfect a casket if it is going to the ground?" one user asked. "The strict measures being taken here means the guy could have died from a highly contagious disease. There is no contagious disease worse than Coronavirus at the moment."
Another user, Polycarp Hinga, tweeted: "Coronavirus is real people. Be safe and adhere to set measures."
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the manner in which Tony Waswa's burial was conducted has sparked a heated discussion on social media.
