Kenya: Exhumed Priest to Be Buried Again
The body of a Nyeri Catholic priest that was exhumed on Sunday night has been taken to the Mathari Mission Hospital morgue awaiting a second burial. Suspected grave thieves exhumed Brother Dominic Jordan’s body from Mathari Consolata Cemetery and then abandoned it.
They also left behind their spades, fork jembes, hoes and gloves. Jordan was buried in February last year. Police on Monday obtained a court order to ascertain whether there was another body buried in the grave but did not find one. The priest in charge of the institution, Fr Bethlemeo Mwangi, said a fresh service will be conducted and the Jordan will be buried again.
Another service will be performed to cleanse the area. “It is very bad and against the African tradition to interfere with the dead. Even grazing on a grave is wrong. We will conduct a ceremony to cleanse the area. The dead should be respected,” Mwangi said. Acting Nyeri Central deputy commissioner John Marete and acting Nyeri police boss Joseph Mwika said investigations into the matter will continue. Marete asked residents not to interfere with the dead. He said if they do, they might be cursed.
