Kenya Stockholm Blog

Crisis as Hussein’s “Open House” Remains Closed

There is a general crisis about the fundraising initiatives of the Hussein Funeral Committee because the “Open House” the Committee had announced will be on a daily basis remained closed as we went to press on Saturday August 22nd at 18.40 Swedish time.

Four contacts who are said to have been responsible have switched off their phones and cannot therefore be reached while, according to a source who spoke to KSB, one key contact who has been responsible for disseminating information was in Finland as the Hussein’s flat remained locked.

Makan, a Kenyan national who went to the residence to condole with the family and at least two other contacts called KSB to say that there was nobody at the residence which, they said, remained locked.

This is a big embarrassment because the “Open House” is a key fund raising strategy to help transport Hussein’s body to Uganda. For many Kenyans who have called KSB seeking further direction, it is unthinkable that following the death of a member of the East African community, his “Open House” sessions which had been publicized through KSB and SMS remained “closed.

KSB has decided to go out with this information because we too, have been unable to make contacts with a single member of the Funeral Committee. We have been unable to reach Mr. George, a Ugandan who has been dealing with the matter while Huda, a Ugandan lady who has been in touch with KSB over the phone and who is also in charge, could also not be reached on her phone number which was published at KSB as the key contact for people seeking further information over the Hussein matter.

When one calls the number, one is redirected to another number before the line goes dead. Many Kenyans are very concerned because the closure of Hussein’s House after the announcement that it would remain “Open” is extremely strange. We appeal to members of the Hussein committee to take action and to clarify why the “Open House” has remained closed despite public announcement that it would remain “Open”.

The continued close down of the Hussein’s flat does not auger well for the fund raising activities while it brings confusion. We hope that the matter will be sorted out by those in charge as soon as possible. Hussein was a very responsible person and his funeral arrangements should not be bogged down due to lack of responsibility.

Okoth Osewe

August 22, 2009 - Posted by makozewe | News & Analysis