Under grey skies and the weight of sorrow, two young souls stood surrounded by caskets — their entire family wiped out on one cruel night.
The final send-off of Richard Ouma Opondo, his wife, and seven children unfolded on Friday in Upanda village, Siaya County, in a ceremony steeped in grief and raw emotion.
The two siblings, the only survivors, had been away during the suspected arson attack. While the eldest son was at a college in Nairobi, his younger sister was away in Sidindi visiting her maternal grandmother, a decision that now feels touched by fate.
Mama Mary, the grandmother, clutched her sorrow like a second skin. Her voice trembled as she spoke of her daughter Jacinta Anyango, her son-in-law Ouma, and her seven grandchildren — all lost in the fire that engulfed their home on April 22.
“It was God’s will that I insisted she leave the child with me,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “My daughter was a quiet woman. She loved her husband. She respected him. Her children were her joy.”
Mama Mary pleaded for help, not for herself, but for the two grandchildren who must now navigate life alone.
“They must continue with school, that is the reason I am appealing to the leaders and all kind-hearted people to step in and help us,” she pleaded.
The funeral service, held at Ninga Comprehensive School, drew a sea of mourners from across Siaya County.
Here, grief hung heavy in the air and anger simmered just beneath. Many believed the heinous act that stole nine lives was rooted in a bitter land dispute.
Friends and relatives called for speedy investigations into the matter and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to book.
From the soulful dirges to trembling speeches, the message was the same: evil visited Upanda village that night, and it must not be ignored.
At the heart of the gathering, nine white caskets stood in quiet testimony — symbols of a fire that devoured a family.
Inside them lay the charred remains of the late Ouma, his wife Anyango, and their children, aged six months to 17 years.
Four of the children had attended Sigomre Primary School. Their empty desks in school will now echo their absence.
Crowds surged to glimpse the framed photographs resting atop each casket. The police struggled to hold them back. Here, grief had blurred all boundaries.
Local leaders urged the community to confront the root of the tragedy — land conflicts left to fester and grow.
“We all know this fire was born of land disputes,” said Otieno Alur, a political figure in Ugunja. “If we, as a community, had stepped in earlier, maybe — just maybe — this family would still be with us.”
However, the solemn ceremony was briefly transformed into a stage of political resolve.
Comedian Erick Omondi, visibly moved, addressed the youth in the crowd.
“We want President William Ruto to be the last person of the old order leading this country. That is the reason we want him to complete and go. As young people we must step up our game and work towards taking the leadership of this nation,” said Omondi.
