Grief and anguish marked the burial of Rose Benter Apondi, a student at Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT), who was laid to rest on April 23 at her home in Uyoma, Siaya County. Family, friends, and fellow church members gathered in large numbers to honour her life, even as calls for justice grew louder following her brutal killing.
Apondi’s body had been discovered in a forest in Kisumu about a week after she was reported missing. According to relatives, the remains were in a severely decomposed state, with some body parts missing, a detail that deepened the pain surrounding her death. The young woman, who was also an active SDA choir member, was remembered in an emotional ceremony attended by her schoolmates and dozens of church choirs that held an overnight vigil.
Why mourners did not view Benter Apondi’s remains
Due to the condition of her body, the family opted for a closed-casket burial. Her aunt, Arich Ndege, explained that the coffin was sealed at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, making it impossible for mourners to view her remains. She shared that the post-mortem raised troubling questions, including visible stab wounds and missing body parts, suggesting the victim endured immense suffering before her death.
Investigations into the killing have pointed to Apondi’s estranged boyfriend, Steven Coleman Okoth, who is currently in police custody. Authorities say he admitted to attacking her after discovering messages from another man on her phone. Detectives revealed that he allegedly lured her out on April 5 with promises of helping her secure an attachment, before the fatal incident. He was later arrested at his workplace in Kisumu after initially refusing to cooperate with investigators.
