How Six-year Old Kirinyaga Boy Forced Mourners to Return Father's Body to Mortuary

There was confusion in Kirinyaga County as drama unfolded at a funeral ceremony on Wednesday after mourners were forced to return the body of the deceased to the mortuary until his six-year-old son signed his burial permit.

Reports indicate that the mourners insisted that the deceased, Nicholas Muriuki's sister, who had earlier signed the permit, had no right to do so.

"There is no way a married woman can come and sign the burial permit for Muriuki while his son is alive. The body must be taken back to the mortuary until we trace the whereabouts of the minor," a resident argued.

Drama would unfold as the six year boy was nowhere to be found as he was hidden by his mother (the mother had been separated from the deceased), forcing the mourners to return the deceased’s body to the morgue.

Area Chief Immaculate Njoka was forced to intervene by bringing police officers to restore order at the burial ceremony, before the body was returned to the mortuary.

The ceremony was halted for several hours, before the boy was retrieved at around 4:30 pm and taken to sign the burial permit to allow the laying down of his dad.

Muriuki died on 11th May after he was run over by a vehicle transporting Miraa along Embu-Mwea road.

His was laid to rest at around 5:30 pm, shortly after his son put a thumb impression on his burial permit.