Police deny stopping Kennedy Onyango's burial in Mbita

Police have denied claims of interfering with the burial of Kennedy Onyango by holding onto his remains.

Onyango's mother earlier on Saturday alleged that police took her son's body ahead of his burial in Mbita, Homa Bay county.

But in a statement late Saturday, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said police released the body to the family on July 4 upon conclusion of postmortem.

"Contrary to the misleading reports circulating on social media that the National Police Service has stopped the burial of the late Kennedy Onyango in Mbita constituency, we wish to clarify to the public that the body was released to the mother, Josinter Anyango Ochieng for burial on July 4, 2024," he said.

Koome said the body was moved to Mbita for burial but upon arrival on July 5, a man claiming to be the biological father of the boy appeared with a court order stopping the burial demanding to bury him.

The IG said the Civil Suit No. 0028 of 2024 filed at Mbita Law Courts ordered the police to move the body to Suba Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home for preservation.

"The OCS Mbita Police Station complied with the order," he said.

Onyango, 12, died after being shot on the shoulder in Ongata Rongai during anti-Finance Bill protests on June 25.

President William Ruto on Friday dismissed widespread reports that the boy was shot eight times by a police officer.

Ruto said during an engagement on X with Gen Z that the boy was shot by a criminal who had snatched a firearm from a police officer.

IG Koome said autopsy results indicated that the boy died due to a single gunshot wound from a long range.

Government pathologist Peter Ndegwa said Onyango died of severe haemorrhage (excessive bleeding) caused by a long-range bullet wound.

"The nature of the bullet wound indicates that it was fired from a long range. This is contrary to reports that have been going around that Kennedy was shot eight times," Ndegwa said on Monday.

Koome called on Kenyans to remain calm as the matter regarding Onyango's burial dispute is resolved before the court.

Onyango's mother claimed she had spoken to President William Ruto for intervention.

In a video seen by the Star, mourners had gathered at the home to condole the family on Saturday.