Helicopter carrying coffin arrives, casket fumigated, body buried: Wetangula brother interred in 15-minute event

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula’s Late brother, Tony Waswa Wetangula, was laid to rest at his home in Mukhweya Village in Kabuchai Constituency, Bungoma County on Wednesday, May 20.

A helicopter carrying Waswa’s casket touched down at his homestead at 11:05am, and healthcare workers from Bungoma County, who were dressed in protective clothing, received the coffin, fumigated it and immediately took it to the gravesite, where it was lowered. All that process lasted less than ten minutes.

Waswa died last Friday, May 15 while undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi. His body had been preserved at a Nairobi funeral home.

It wasn’t immediately revealed what caused his death.

However, a Wednesday, May 20 statement by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula suggested that Waswa could have succumbed to coronavirus complications.

“Do not treat COVID-19 lightly, it is a serious disease,” said Wetangula during the funeral mass of his Late sibling.

The mass, which lasted less than five minutes, was held after Waswa had already been interred.

Sirisia MP John Walukhe, Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga were among the attendees of Waswa’s send-off.

Walukhe, in his address, urged Kenyans to observe the COVID-19 safety guidelines and rules put in place by the Government through the Ministry of Health.

Waswa, who died aged 47, leaves behind a wife, Tina Musili, and four children: Dustine Waswa, Rye Waswa, Pauline Waswa and Daniel Waswa.

He was the step-brother of Senator Moses Wetangula and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi.

Until the time of his demise, Waswa worked as Tim Wanyonyi’s assistant.