Kizito Moi Amukune, the farmhand of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, has finally been laid to rest after delays occasioned by a standoff over his cause of death.
The 47-year-old was interred at his home in Mungusi village, Kakamega East, on Monday, February 5.
Police allowed Moi’s family to continue with his burial after a second autopsy conducted by Government Chief Pathologist Johansen Oduor confirmed that the deceased was gored to death by a bull.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, the pathologist stated that the deceased suffered injuries on his forehead, neck and thighs, adding that the injuries were consistent with a bull attack.
“The [first] autopsy was performed by local pathologist Dr Dickson Muchana, however, there were some complaints which led to us being called here to do a repeat. From my findings, the late Kizito had injuries, one injury was of the forehead on the right side, and the ulterior neck on the inner thigh of the left leg, looking at these injuries, they were penetrating and had features which included bruising around them and to look at them closely, they look like injuries which were caused by something penetrative but not very sharp, something a bit blunt, which is in-keeping with a horned animal,” Oduor stated.
Burial postponed
The burial was postponed from the initial date of January 30 after some residents led by Kakamega businessman Cleophas Shimanyula, alias Toto alleged foul play in Moi’s death.
Toto dismissed Senator Khalwale’s statement that Moi was attacked by his fighter bull, claiming that the politician had a hand in the sudden death.
Khalwale denied the murder claims, saying he had been forced to suspend burial plans for Moi to allow the police to conclude their investigations into the incident.
“Following wild, baseless, and false claims by some pseudo-politicians in Kakamega, I’ve today been forced to indefinitely postpone the burial of my trusted fighter bull caretaker,” Khalwale said.
“I’ve readly opened up my home to the police to afford them an opportunity to make credible and conclusive investigations into this sad death thereby enabling them to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion before burial plans continue,” the legislator added in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Dr Jimmy Akhonya, who represented the complainants in the second autopsy, confirmed to the media that Moi died from multiple injuries inflicted by a bull.
“I attended the post-mortem, wrote my statement and confirmed that the deceased was gored to death by an animal,” Akhonya revealed.
Seasoned bullfighter and trainer
The late Moi, who died on Saturday, January 27, had been the caretaker and trainer of the senator’s fighting bulls for more than 20 years.
Following the tragedy, the senator led his neighbours to kill the bull in line with Luhya traditions.
“My champion bull, Inasio, has attacked and instantly killed Kizito Moi Amukune. Moi has been the caretaker of my fighter bulls for over 20 years. In keeping with our culture, I have today speared bull Inasio to death,” he said.
“For 20 years, Kizito Moi Amukune, my fighter bull caretaker, earned an earnest day’s pay. RIP, my brother,” he added.
