Magoha's burial: Gov't to transport body in military chopper, offer relief food to Gem residents

The government has pledged to cater for the funeral expenses of the late former Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha in its efforts to give the deceased a befitting send-off.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said on Saturday that the State, through the Ministry of Defense, will ferry Prof Magoha’s body from Nairobi to his home for burial using a military helicopter.

Speaking after visiting Magoha’s family in Lavington, the DP said the chopper would also transport close family members to the ceremony that will be held in Yala, Gem Constituency, Siaya County.

“The family did request that the government helps to airlift the body and we have agreed and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will provide a military helicopter to take the body home together with the members of the family on Friday preceding the Saturday burial,” Gachagua said.

Apart from transport, DP Gachagua went on to announce that the Kenya Kwanza administration will also chip in to assist the family financially by providing food, tents, and chairs among other essentials during the burial.

This, he said, would be coordinated by Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki.

“The family requested we do help in providing the tentage and chairs and all that goes with it to cater for mourners on that particular day, and the request has acceded and the CS of Interior has been properly guided,” Gachagua noted.

“We have also committed to providing financial support to the family in terms of funeral preparations and feeding the thousands of mourners expected.”

In addition to feeding the mourners, the DP said the State would distribute relief food to all the locals in Gem Constituency in honour of the late no-nonsense former CS.

“Over and above, our department of special programs will also provide food for the family and the mourners and in addition, we have also instructed that we provide relief food to all the residents of Gem so that as we proceed to prepare for the burial, all the homes surrounding the bereaved home, they will also be comfortable because there will be food,” he said.

The deputy president further committed to supporting the family in any other needs by dedicating three senior officials as representatives of the government, including; ICT CS Eliud Owalo, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, and the Chief of Staff in the office of the DP George McGoye.

Professor Magoha died of a cardiac arrest on Tuesday while at the Nairobi Hospital. His brother Prof. Richard Magoha was laid to rest on Saturday in Yala.