Nigerian man blocks Thika family from taking 31-yr-old daughter’s body 1 month after her death

A family from Makongeni in Thika are frustrated after a Nigerian man blocked them from taking the body of their 31-year-old daughter who succumbed to pneumonia one month ago.

Charles Emedo, who holds dual citizenship (Nigeria and Sweden) refused to let the family of Maureen Muthoni take her remains from Umash Funeral Home for burial on claims that Muthoni was his wife.

This comes on the back of an accrued medical bill of Ksh2 million that Emedo is yet to foot.

Emedo and Muthoni, a tours and travel expert who owned a company, dated for nine years, and were blessed with two children.

Even though Emedo claims he is Muthoni’s widower, the deceased’s parents deny, saying the Nigerian has never visited them nor paid dowry for their daughter.

Emedo, a Karen resident, allegedly does not have appropriate immigration documents to justify his stay in Kenya.

Lydia Nyamwathi, Muthoni’s mother, told K24 Digital that their daughter distanced herself from them the moment she got into a relationship with Emedo nine years ago.

“My girl was very responsible until she met the Nigerian man. Before then, she used to take care of her siblings, including financing her younger sister’s education,” said Nyamwathi.

According to the distressed parent, ever since Muthoni kick-started her love affair with Emedo, she saw her the first time in December 2018.

“And that time, she was in hospital for pneumonia treatment,” said Nyamwathi.

“After she was discharged from hospital, her lover declined to let us meet her at her Karen home.”

Muthoni’s health would deteriorate two months later, leading to her hospitalisation at MP Shah Hospital.

Again, she was treated and discharged, said Muthoni’s mother.

Muthoni’s condition worsened after two weeks, and she was rushed to Nairobi Hospital, where she died in September 2019 after spending five days in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The medical bill had accrued to Ksh2 million and Muthoni’s parents and Emedo had agreed to pool their resources and settle the fee.

“We, as family, raised Ksh200, 000 and took it to Emedo. Shortly after giving him the money, he went into hiding,” said Nyamwathi.

It was later learnt that Emedo had put up a Paybill number and asked his friends, and even strangers to contribute toward raising the outstanding Ksh2 million bill. The money, Muthoni’s mother says, is yet to be paid to Nairobi Hospital.

The storage fee of Muthoni’s body at Umash Funeral Home, where she was moved, has thus far accrued to Ksh75, 000.

Muthoni’s family has since sworn an affidavit to bar Emedo from taking their daughter’s body.

“He had told us that he will decide where to bury our daughter, and that he can do so without our consent or knowledge,” said Muthoni’s mother.

The deceased’s parents now want the State to investigate and compel Emedo to release their daughter’s property-ownership documents so that they can sell some of them to raise the needed Ksh2.075 million.

Muthoni’s mother and father also want to be allowed custody of Muthoni’s children.