A poster inviting the public to the exhumation of President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's body from the mausoleum at Parliament Buildings to Gatundu, was shared widely on Monday, March 27.
The poster alleged that the body would be moved to the family's ancestral home in Ichaweri, Gatundu South in Kiambu County on Thursday, March 30, coinciding with Azimio La Umoja's nationwide protests.
It also claimed that the celebration was to be conducted by the Kenyatta family, in conjunction with the State Department for National Heritage.
Jonathan Mueke, who is Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, on the planned event, but he declined to comment, explaining that it was not under his jurisdiction.
“I am not aware of such plans but that could be well answered by the Ministry of Tourism,” he told Kenyans.co.ke.
Calls and text messages to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza went unanswered. However, a source privy to the developments confirmed that the poster was fake and no such event was planned.
“This is propaganda being used by a certain group of people, and its aim is to replicate in Gatundu what happened in Northlands City,” the source claimed.
Questions were also raised about the public being invited to an event the military may conduct, as the Kenya Defence Forces guard the tomb. The timing was also suspect, especially with the Kenyatta family in the spotlight for an alleged witchhunt by some government officials.
An unknown number of people stormed Northlands City in Kiambu County, owned by the Kenyattas, on Monday, March 27. The rowdy youth stole livestock, cut down trees and reportedly set the forest on fire. Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, criticised the incident and accused his rivals of orchestrating the chaos.
However, Kiharu MP, Ndindi Nyoro and Nandi Senator, Samson Cheragei, defended the government while refuting the allegations.
"Our government is built on the premises of humanity. We do not have to go harassing the other leaders just because we are in government. We also do not want to spend energy on the push and pull games," Nyoro told Kameme TV on Monday, March 27.
“The attacks against Northlands and E. A. Spectre international Company Ltd were sponsored by Tinga (Raila Odinga) and his sponsor, Uhuru, for public sympathy addiction with the hope that their barren protests can be jump-started," Cherargei added, in a statement issued on his social media pages.
Kenyatta Mausoleum
The Kenyatta mausoleum is one of the most guarded areas in Kenya, managed and maintained by the Parliament and guarded by KDF.
The mausoleum, rarely open to the public, was built by renowned architect and painter George Vamos who beat time and pressure from the government to draw the architectural design.
It consists of solid granite sidewalls assembled on the foundation. The interior floor is constructed with premium and coloured granite. The mausoleum is also red-carpeted from the entrance to the main structure that spots polished royal sable granite.
According to reports, the founding father’s body was only officially exhumed once since his burial on August 31, 1978.
The body was exhumed three months after his burial and was taken to City Mortuary, where it was professionally prepared.
Lt-Gen Daniel Opande coordinated the event, authorised by General Jackson Mulinge, the Army Commander. Opande detailed these claims in his autobiography titled In Pursuit of Peace in Africa.
"We entered the mausoleum and, with the help of a handful of soldiers, set out to take out the casket. It was quite heavy and tricky to remove, but we successfully brought it out. It was immediately transferred to the waiting military ambulance for the journey to the City Mortuary.
"The body was cleaned, and within an hour, the body was placed back into the casket for transportation back to the mausoleum,” Opande alleged.
In 2019, the Kenyatta family held its last public anniversary of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's death. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta explained that the decision was reached after consultations with family members.
“As President, I have consulted the family of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and after consulting them, we have agreed that this is going to be the last celebration of Mzee in this manner,” President (Rtd) Kenyatta explained on August 22, 2019.
