Former Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has categorically dismissed allegations suggesting that the family of Mzee Justin Odongo returned a sum of KSh 50,000 to his M-Pesa account, which he had donated towards the funeral expenses of the deceased.
Echesa refuted the claims, stating that no such transaction took place, emphasising that his contributions to community events like funerals are made out of goodwill and respect for the bereaved.
Echesa clarified that the only item being returned was a bull he had provided for slaughter during the burial. He stated that while the animal was reportedly on its way back to his home, it had not yet arrived at the time of writing.
The controversy stems from reports on social media and web sources indicating that the Odongo family returned the donation due to alleged disruptions at the funeral, which some attribute to political tensions involving Echesa and other local leaders.
The issue has sparked a debate among locals and on social platforms about the ethics of political involvement in private events like funerals, with many questioning the motives behind such contributions.
People have highlighted a mix of support for Echesa’s clarification and suspicion about the underlying political dynamics.
Echesa, known for his political engagements in the region, has often been at the centre of local political controversies, including previous incidents at community functions.
The incident at Mzee Odongo’s funeral was reportedly marred by clashes between supporters of different political figures, adding to the complexity of the situation.
