‘Dead’ Siaya man returns home few days after his burial

George Oduor was only 27 when he left his rural home in Wambasa, Usigu sub-county, in 2015.

For a decade, his family knew nothing about his whereabouts until Tuesday, April 1, 2025, when he showed up home aged 37.

For several hours, what started as an April 1 Fool’s Day prank turned out to be true, throwing the family and villagers into confusion and disbelief after the man they had presumed dead and buried appeared alive.

The family of Oduor was forced to exhume the grave where they had buried the body of the person they had mistaken for his.

According to the family, they received news that someone resembling Oduor had been involved in a road accident and was admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Kisumu on February 13 before he succumbed a few hours later.

His sister, who visited the morgue in the company of other family members, identified the alleged body, and they were allowed to pick it for burial although some family members had raised their reservations.

“I visited the morgue twice in the company of Oduor’s brother and sister, and they all confirmed that the body was his. We then agreed to start burial plans,” said Jacinter Ochomo, Oduor’s sister-in-law.

Oduor’s shocking story dates back to February 10, when he reportedly left Kakamega, where he had been staying with a friend.

According to his friend Felix Tulo, Oduor left on that day, saying he was going to visit his family in Yimbo.

“We never communicated until February 17 when I called his number and a stranger picked it. He told me that the owner of the phone had been admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and switched off before giving more details,” narrated Tulo.

Even though he had known Oduor for some time, Tulo told The Nairobian that he had never seen any of his family members or relatives.

In search of Oduor through the hospital where he had reportedly been admitted, Tulo went to a place where Oduor had previously worked as a casual labourer and got his identity card before tracing his home.

Through the local administration, Oduor’s family was informed of his alleged death. On March 4, members of his family travelled to Kisumu on a fact-finding mission.

According to Ochomo, the hospital management informed them that one George Odhiambo was admitted to the facility as an unconscious and weak patient.

“We were informed that he was brought to the hospital by a group of people who claimed to be his relatives, but they never left any details with the hospital. The patient died a few hours later,” she narrated.

In an attempt to trace Oduor’s last moments, Ochomo says they visited Kondele Police Station after it was alleged that Oduor was involved in an accident around Kondele.

“Police told us that they had no information about the said person and that no accident was reported during that period,” she said, adding that they were also not able to trace the stranger who had Oduor’s phone.

But in a shocking turn of events, Oduor returned home three days after his ‘burial’ that was attended by villagers, friends, family, and relatives.

Sylphanus Odipo, a neighbour who first met him on his return, said he was shocked.

“I didn’t believe what I saw. It was like a nightmare before I called his name and he responded. I informed his other family members who confirmed that it was him though he was not allowed into the homestead,” said Odipo.

Speaking to The Nairobian on the phone, Oduor who was not allowed to enter the homestead until he is cleansed, said he was alive.

“I am alive, and we can allow the matter to rest. Those who buried the wrong person  know where and how they got him,” he said.