Police Fire Teargas at Jakoyo Midiwo’s Burial as Rowdy Mourners Demand to View Body

The burial service of former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo turned chaotic after mourners stormed St Luke's Ndori Primary School demanding to view his body.

This forced police officers to fire teargas to disperse the rowdy crowd, halting the ceremony for over 20 minutes.

The commotion started shortly after a helicopter carrying the remains of the late politician touched the ground at the school at around 10:00 pm.

Officers lobbed tear gas canisters after they were overwhelmed by hundreds of residents who surged forward to view Midiwo’s body in disregard to COVID-19 protocols. 

Midiwo’s body was then flown his home in Mabinju village in Gem and driven back to the venue after officers managed to repulse the rowdy mourners.

ODM leader Raila Odinga, Siaya Senator James Orengo, and several other political leaders from the region attended the burial ceremony.

Jakoyo, 54, fell ill suddenly and was taken to Nairobi Hospital where he died on June 14th while undergoing treatment. Autopsy results showed that Midiwo died of acute kidney failure.