Burial Mix-Up in Vihiga Forces DCI to Exhume Body Weeks Later

What was meant to be a final goodbye turned into a painful and unforgettable ordeal for a family in Vihiga County.

In the quiet village of Chotero, Mbihi sub-location, grief had already settled in. A family had done everything right—or so they believed. They mourned, gathered resources, and laid their loved one to rest with heavy hearts back on March 23. It was supposed to bring closure.

But weeks later, everything changed.

A shocking discovery revealed that the body buried was not their relative.

The man laid to rest was identified as Polycarp Ondieki from Kisii County—an entirely different person. The realization sent waves of confusion, disbelief, and pain through the family and the entire community.

News of the incident has spread quickly across Vihiga, from Mbale to Chavakali and as far as Luanda town, leaving residents in Hamisi, Emuhaya, and Sabatia questioning mortuary standards.

DCI Moves In

Soon after, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi moved in. The once quiet gravesite turned into a scene of activity as the body was carefully exhumed, bringing back emotions the family thought they had already laid to rest.

The remains have since been transported back to Nairobi, where they now await proper identification before being handed over to the rightful family for burial.

A Second Burial

Meanwhile, the affected family in Mbihi is now facing yet another emotional night.

Their actual relative, Collins Onzere, was transported from Nairobi under cover of darkness and is set to be buried according to Maragoli traditions—customs that guide communities during such unusual and sensitive situations.

Tonight's burial will not be ordinary.

Cultural practices dictate that when such a mistake occurs, certain rituals must be followed. A banana stem will be planted in the original grave—a symbolic act marking the error and separating the past from the present. Collins will then be laid to rest in a new grave, finally bringing him home.

"For now, a family is left to mourn twice—first in ignorance, and now in painful awareness. And a community watches, unsettled by a mistake that should never have happened."

Unanswered Questions

But even as the family prepares for this second burial, questions continue to linger.

How did such a mix-up happen in the first place? Was it a failure in identification at the mortuary? Could this have been prevented?

Communities across North Maragoli, Central Maragoli, and West Maragoli are watching closely, demanding answers and accountability from health facilities that serve families during their most vulnerable moments.