Drama at burial of Ohangla artiste Abenny Jachiga as angry mourners remove casket from grave

The anticipated burial of Ohangla artiste Bernard Onyango Obonyo popularly known as Abenny Jachiga was disrupted after irate mourners demanded for a proper ceremony.

Mourners in Chiga, Kisumu East sub-county are said to have defied the laid down COVID-19 regulations arriving in huge numbers despite heavy police presence.

They pelted stones at the officers saying they wanted more time to view the body of the Ohangla artist.

The mourners removed the casket from the grave and then temporarily filled it with soil to prevent the ceremony from proceeding.

Police were forced to lob teargas at the crowd, majority of whom were on motorcycles.

The body had been moved from Port Florence Hospital morgue to Kadiju village at around 9am on Friday.

Hours later, it was still at Kadiju Primary School (about 500 metres from the deceased’s home).

Mourners insisted that they would not allow a hurried burial.

Reports indicate that Jachiga had been battling pneumonia for a long time, an illness which saw him have frequent visits to the hospital.

He was admitted to St Jairus Hospital in Kisumu on June 9 after developing breathing complications at his home in Chiga.

The musician who is renowned for his popular song ‘Mano Kasinde’ however died on June 11 while undergoing treatment.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Ministry directed that only a maximum of only 15 people, who strictly adhere to the social distancing, are allowed to attend a funeral.

Further, the body of the deceased should only be handled by a public health official.

Burial should also take place within 48 hours after a person dies.

The body of the musician was moved to St Elizabeth Chiga Health Centre.