Kenyans thwart burial of kin

2009-01-08 10:00

Eldoret - Relatives of dozens of Kenyans burnt alive in a church during the country's post-election violence last year thwarted an attempt on Wednesday to bury their kin without their consent.

The irate relatives stormed a cemetery in Eldoret town in western Kenya and forced hospital officials to halt the burial of the bodies that have been lying at the town's morgue for the past year, an AFP correspondent reported.

Government pathologist Moses Njue said the interment was a temporary measure and that the bodies would be exhumed once identified by their relatives, who rejected the move.

"This is actually not a burial ceremony, but a temporary resting place for the victims," Njue said. "The way we are doing it is not like a normal burial ceremony."

Many of the 33 victims were burnt beyond recognition and DNA testing was still awaited to properly identify them.

"This is the height of government callousness," said Regina Muthoni, whose mother died in the church arson.

The area district commissioner Leonard Ngaluma ordered the burial stopped, arguing, "this ceremony clearly goes against African customs".

"I have been ordered by my superiors to stop the ceremony until another day," he said.

Kenya plunged into some of its bloodiest violence since independence following the disputed December 2007 presidential polls triggered by then- opposition chief Raila Odinga's charge that President Mwai Kibaki stole the vote.

At least 1 500 people were killed within weeks.

The two rivals agreed to form a coalition government in February 2008 after painstaking mediation by former UN chief Kofi Annan.

- AFP