Family begs state to stop cremation of Kenyan man in US

 

Ojwang's family asks for help to stop cremation of their son 

A row over the body of a Kenyan man who died in the US has forced the family to appeal to the government to stop likely cremation.

The family of Wilfred Ojwang’ was given 10 days to raise Sh1.7 million for shipment of his body.

But his former wife now claims the body has decomposed so much it cannot be moved.

The family says Ojwang's 74-year-old mother is unconsolable and would be badly affected if he is cremated abroad without her seeing the body.

Ojwang', aged 40, was found unresponsive in his car in Pennsylvania on May 31 by a neighbour and declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

He married Virginia Hendrick, a US citizen, after they met in Mombasa and moved abroad in 2012.

The union ended in six years and they did not have a child together, but the woman had grandchildren.

The former wife initially gave the family 10 days to wire the money or she would get the body cremated.

Ojwang's elder sister Evelyne told the Star that while they are sparing no efforts to raise funds, the former sister-in-law has not been cooperating with them.

“She had initially said she would not chip in even a cent and we respected that. But now that we are working hard to raise the cash, she is claiming the body can’t be shipped. Why?” she said.

The family had contacted the morgue where the body is preserved and was assured the body is safe.

But after the latest outburst from Hendrick, the morgue now claims the body was kept in a cooler rather than a freezer and has started decomposing.

“They now claim my brother’s body can’t be moved here yet the morgue had initially assured us that because it was destined for international shipping, they would preserve it well,” Evelyne said.

The family said the former sister-in-law was quick to tell them that there was no foul play in the death of Ojwang'.

“Could it be that there was something that she knew that she was quick to allay with that comment? We are not interested in anything; we just want the body of our brother in whatever state,” Evelyne said.

She say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should step in to stop the possible cremation of the body.

“We are pleading with the government to help. My effort to get help from key officials in the government has not borne any fruit,” she said.

“We just want the body to be home, in whatever state. We are pleading with the government to come our aid and save us from these frustrations.”

Evelyne said the family is not interested in getting any of her brother's assets.

“We are asking well-wishers to chip in a help us raise the money and bring my brother home. It is for the sake of our mother who is 74 years old. If she sees the body, she will be peaceful. Wilfred was her hope,” she said. 

Evelyne's phone number is 0727899380.

by GORDON OSEN