Controversy
has erupted over the manner in which a Kilifi top government official wrote a
letter requesting for donations amounting to tune of Sh1.5 million from
wellwishers to supposedly meet funeral expenses of renowned Kaya elder Pekeshe
Ndeje who passed on recently.
Kilifi
deputy governor KM Kamto allegedly wrote a letter dated August 5 2014 urging
for help to raise Sh1.5 million for burial expenses of the late Ndeje allegedly
without the family’s input or authorisation.
Family
sources now say the total budget for the entire process including clearance of
medical bills at Coast General Hospital and the burial expenses was Sh300,000
half of which was footed by Mining cabinet secretary Najib Balala who was a
close friend of the late Kaya elder.
Mzee
Ndeje was laid to rest at his Ruruma village recently in a function attended by
Raila Odinga. He had been admitted to Coast General Hospital for several weeks
before he died.
And
to perhaps shame the deputy governor’s assertions that his move was above
board, the family last week gave a breakdown of how donations were received
from wellwishers to bury Mzee Ndeje. They said cabinet secretary Balala cleared
the medical bill amounting to Sh47,000, paid Sh50,000 for transportation of the
body and a further Sh50,000 for coffin.
Kilifi
North MP Gedion Mung’aro together with his Kilifi South counterpart Mustafa
Iddi gave Sh100,000 to cater for food, public address system and generator. Mung’aro
gave a further Sh15,000 for the mzee’s
burial suit.
Kamto’s
letter reads thus: “It is with sorrow, that Kilifi county has lost a renown
Kaya elder who has not only taken care of the conservation of our Kayas but has
also upheld our cultural heritage in the county. Burial rites will be held on
Saturday August 9 2014. On top of the hospital bill, we have burial costs
standing at a cost of Sh1,500,000”.
And
on the day of the burial, Kamto and Kilifi governor Amason Kingi gave the family of Ndeje Sh400,000 announcing
that the cash was their personal donation towards the family’s upkeep. Now
questions are being raised as to whether the money was part of the Sh1.5
million raised through the Kamto letter which means the family must be given
the Sh1.1 million balance.
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