Man stuck with mothers remains after family declines to bury them

A 23-year-old man from Alego Usonga in Siaya County is in a dilemma over what to do with remains of his mother who died in Germany.

Samsom Apondi Were has preserved the ashes of his late mother’s body, which was cremated in Germany, at the Coast General Hospital Mortuary hoping to give her a decent send-off.

His mother perished in the foreign country following a grisly train accident.

Due to financial inability to transport the body back home for a proper burial in accordance with the Luo culture, the 23-year-old allowed her mother to be cremated in Germany.

His family back in Siaya decided to bury the trump of a banana plant to symbolise the burial of their beloved.

Despite the ‘burial’, Were worked hard to bring back the remains of his late mother back into the country for a proper burial.

Despite help by a well-wisher to bring back the ashes, Were’s family in Siaya has declined to perform a burial saying that their culture does not allow for one person to be buried more than once.

Were is now waiting and hoping that his family will give him permission to bury his mother.

Written by Moses Ngugi