Ewaton buried as leaders doubt suicide report

• Former MP for Turkana South shot his wife dead and then turned the gun on himself.
• Leaders say police should continue with investigation and establish how the former MP died.
• Ewaton will be remembered for building schools and dispensaries in Turkana South.

Turkana leaders have pledged to put their differences in party and political affiliation aside to develop the county.

The leaders were speaking at the burial of the former MP for Turkana South, Mr Francis Ewaton, and his second wife, Lydiah Ewaton.

The leaders also said the police should continue with investigation and establish how the former MP died saying he could not have killed his wife and committed suicide. (READ: Former MP shoots wife, kills self in family tragedy)

Ewaton and his wife were buried at their Lokichar home at a ceremony attended by a host of local leaders and MPs affiliated with Kanu led by party chairman Gideon Moi.

Mr Moi said the former legislator was a pillar of the independence party in the region for years, adding that the party owes its popularity in Turkana to Mr Ewaton.

Turkana South MP Josephat Nanok said the county had lost a development conscious leader.

“Mr Ewaton was a worthy leader and competitor. He was a leader who led his people passionately and with a development agenda in mind,” said Mr Nanok.

Mr Pius Atok, a son of the late former MP and an aspirant for the Turkana governor’s seat, said his father was a good man who never failed to deliver on his promises.

Mr Atok said that even after his father lost the parliamentary seat in the 2007 elections, he went ahead and finished all the projects he had started.

Ewaton will be remembered for building schools and dispensaries in Turkana South.

Leaders vowed to follow in his footsteps especially his tireless efforts to bring peace between the Turkana and Pokot.

The newly discovered oil in the county also attracted attention with the Kanu leader saying the local people should benefit from the find. “Turkana children should not pay school fees,” said Mr Moi.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta were represented in the burial by Mr Nanok and Labour minister John Munyes.