Kenya Stockholm Blog

Controversy Over Late Lule Omiti Cash Deposits

A controversy has errupted over deposit of funds to a bank account in support of funeral arrangements of the late Mr. Lule Omiti, the son of the late John Peter Omiti. The senior Omiti died last month while his son passed away yesterday in Kenya after a long illness.

Yesterday, Mrs Pamela Omiti sent an SMS to Kenyans in Stockholm appealing for economic assistance towards the funeral arrangements of the late Lule, arguing that the funeral of her husband Mr. Omiti had drained her financial resources.

In a message to KSB, Pamela wrote: “I am appealing to well wishers to help me with contributions to bury Omiti 23 years who died this morning. Remembering Omiti’s funeral, I was left with everything, food, sanduku (coffin), transport. I found it really tough and now again, I am faced with the same problem. Please, send your donation to Swedbank 832799938036770. Thank you for those who helped me during Omiti’s funeral. I send thanks. They can contact me on (phone number with held)”.

In a quick rejoinder, Mr. Willy Nyambok, a cousin of the late Lule and son of Mr. Ochieng Nyambik (brother of the late J.P Omiti) sent a counter SMS to Kenyans in Stockholm asking well-wishers to send cash to his father Ochieng in Kenya through Handelsbanken, Account number 254401481.

According to Willy, money should not be sent to Pamela because there is no guarantee that cash will reach the family in Kenya. Willy claimed that out of Ksh 80.000 kr that was raised by Kenyans in Sweden towards the funeral of the senior Omiti, only Ksh 8.000 was delivered.

There was no money to pay the grave diggers or to pay for cement that had been used in the grave. The bill was only settled after Kenyans in Stockholm sent cash through my father’s account”, Willy told KSB. Omiti was an ODMK-Scandinavia member and when he died, Party members raised cash and sent it directly to Kenya.

Mrs Omiti had said that she paid for the coffin and transport. However, according to Willy Nyambok who was in Kenya at the time Mr. Omiti passed away, money that was used to buy the coffin was raised at a Hotel near Kondele in Kisumu. He added that the coffin cost Ksh 16.000.

“Pamela refused to pay for expenses on the grave and argued that she never gave orders that cement be used to prepare the grave”, Willy said.

Willy said that Pamela had already separated with Mr. Omiti before the late Mzee left for Kenya and that under the circumstances, she had no mandate to fund raise on behalf of the Omiti family. He said that Pamela contributed to the arrest of Mr. Omiti by Swedish police before the late Mzee was jailed prior to his last trip to Kenya late last year after he left prison.

“Kenyans should not send a coin to her bank account”, he said.

When contacted for comment, Pamela said that Willy is lying and that it was her who sorted out all bills during the Omiti funeral. 

Willy has said that there is an “Open House” at his residence everyday to mourn and raise funds for the funeral. His address is Söderbyparkväg 10 at Handen in Hanninge (Bus number 830). Take off station is at Kvarntorpv and he can be reached at 0704444921 for any further information on the issue.

Okoth Osewe.

March 12, 2007 - Posted by makozewe | News & Analysis