OJODE’S ELDER BROTHER IS BLASTED BY CLAN ELDERS FOR ACTING IN HASTY AND HARASSING THE LATE MINISTER’S WIDOW OVER PROPERTY INHERITANCE DURING THE CRITICAL MOURNING PERIOD
Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Ndhiwa Town
Elders from the two major sub-clans in Kwabwayi have come out strongly in defense of the late Minister’s widow and scathingly criticized his elder brother Samuel Ojode and accused him of acting in hastiness and erroneously over the late Minister estate.
They termed Samuel Ojode action as hypocrisy and greediness warned him to go slow over the late Minister’s estate.
Elders from the two major sub-clans of Kwabwayi, which are known as Kasirime andKamidar spoke to this write at Ndhiwa town and made it clear that they were disappointed and not happy going by the recent development.
The law governing the property of the deceased persons is quite explicit, and it recognizes the legitimate widow of the any deceased person as the “next of kin, and prime beneficiary of the deceased’s estate”.
Other family members may ony ne enjoined and may get a small fraction of wealth left behind by the deceased, but only with the consent of the widow after reaching some kind of consensus with the entire family members.
The Luo tradition and culture also forbade any discussion about the deceased person’s wealth, property or estate during the mourning period of time. Such issue involving properties are only deliberated upon after a certain period of time ser for morning. But in the case of Samuel Ojode, “he had acted in a very hasty manner,” lamented one elder.
Within one week after the colorful and tearful sending off of the late Ojode who died on June 10 in helicopter crash at Ngong forest together with his former boss the Internal Security Minister Pof. George Saitoti.
Ojode’s elder brother had written a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Oiato Marende and asked hi not to release any compensation to the late Ojode’s Widow Mary Ojode.
Samuel Ojode said I the letter that he wanted any compensation or death benefits to the late Minister’s estate is resolve.
In the letter Samuel Ojode who claimed he was writing on behalf of their mother Mrs Ulda Ojode and other dependants of the deceased accusing the deceased’s widow Mary Ojode had flatly refused to discuss or co-operate with the family on matter relating to the deceased’s estate.
It normally takes up to three months after the deceased’s burial before anybody can deliberate on issues related to the deceased’s wealth, property and estate. All this period is reserved as the “mourning period“ It is a period of time when the deceased person is given the space to rest in eternal life, to have a good rest in his grave.
Like in the case of modern laws, the widow of the deceased is the one who is the next of kin. His first child if he is a grown up plays the role in such deliberations. The same with the second and third and so forth if they are more both off- springs in the issue with of a Luo bread winner before members of the close family convened a meeting an deliberated on the question of property inheritance and even wife inheritance.
The elders, who requested their identities be hidden for fear of reprisals, felt Ojode’ widow was being harassed an wanted her to be left alone to mourn her husband’s untimely demise and family loss
Those old times when widows of the deceased persons were subjected to a lot of harassment over propertied left behind by their husbands are long gone.
Samuel Ojode’s action might have been driven and prompted by greediness. However, he should have consulted widely before hurrying up and writing the letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly placing embargo on ode’s widow thereby escalating her bitterness about the loss of her dear husband. The young widow was devastated b the loss of her husband and needed time for reflection about the tragedy and rest.
Otieno Ogingo is currently out of the country. H e had been unwell for some time and had travelled abroad and seek for medical attention in the United States of America where he is recuperating.
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