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Book Book Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The S. M. Otieno case: death and burial in modern Kenya
Editors:Ojwang, J.B.ISNI
Mugambi, J.N.K.ISNI
Aduwo, G.O.
Year:1989
Pages:192
Language:English
City of publisher:Nairobi
Publisher:Nairobi University Press
ISBN:9966846018
Geographic term:Kenya
Subjects:funerals
conflict
legislation
customary law
Luo
judgments
About person:S.M. Otieno
Abstract:During the first half of 1987, Kenyan news and conversation were dominated by what became known as the 'S.M. Otieno case'. After the death of Mr. Otieno, a Nairobi-based legal practitioner from a rural Luo background, his Kikuyu widow and his Luo clansmen could not agree about the rights relating to, and the place of, his burial. The case was taken to court: the beginning of a four-month lengthy legal battle during which burial of the body was barred. Reacting to the strong public emotions evoked by the case, the Faculty of Law of the University of Nairobi organized a seminar, inviting scholars from different disciplines to consider the broad theme of 'death, burial and society' in the African context. This book arose from the seminar. After an introductory part with contributions by J.B. Ojwang, M.D. Okech-Owiti, and A.B.C. Ocholla-Ayayo, the book contains articles on the social and cultural dimensions of death and burial (Loss and bereavement, by P.W. Kariuki; The rural bias of Kenya's urbanisation, by R.A. Obudho and G.O. Aduwo), on its philosophic and linguistic aspects (Traditionalism and modernisation in Kenya - customs, spirits and Christianity, by H. Odero Oruka; Semantic issues, by D. Okoth-Okombo), on the legal dimension (Conflicts of law and burial, by S.C. Wanjala; The burial law of Kenya: do we need a statute?, by A. Okoth-Owiro; African tradition and Western common law - a study in contradiction, by W. van Doren), and general reflections (Customary law in the Kenyan legal system - an old debate revived, by H.W.O. Okoth-Ogendo; The future of customary law in Kenya, by E. Cotran; The African heritage - change and continuity, by J.N.K. Mugambi). Family trees of Mr. Otiemo and his wife are provided in the appendices. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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