Woman storms funeral, stops event until she gets a share of deceased’s property

By Paul Njau in Kiambu County

Drama ensued at a homestead in Ndiuni Village in Limuru Constituency, Kiambu County on Saturday morning (November 7) after a middle-aged woman stormed a funeral ceremony seeking to be allocated a share of the deceased’s property.

Alice Waithaka stopped the planned burial for a second time now, claiming she was James Mwangi Waweru’s second wife, and, therefore, she was entitled to his property. Waweru died two weeks ago.

Alice said Waweru’s remains would be buried “only after I get my share of his property”.

It is alleged that Alice has refused to release the deceased’s identity card, which is required at the Kijabe Hospital so that Waweru’e body can be released for interment.

Waweru’s “legal” wife and his family, however, want Waweru buried immediately and the property succession row settled thereafter.

“This woman (Alice) should let us bury our loved one, and, thereafter, settle the property dispute. As you know, we are incurring higher preservation costs the longer Waweru’s body remains stored at the mortuary. Following Waweru’s death, the deceased’s children have been affected, and they couldn’t resume learning. The prolonged fight over his burial would only cause more psychological harm to the children,” a member of Waweru’s family told K24 Digital on Saturday.

Waweru’s father, Joseph Waweru, said his son was only married to one woman, and that Alice Waithaka’s allegation -- that she was the deceased’s second wife -- “are untrue”.

“My son was married to one woman, Salome Nduta, whom he lived with for 27 years,” said Joseph, adding: “We do not know who this second woman is.”

It is alleged that Alice has already taken a part of Waweru’s property, claiming she is entitled to more.

The sister of Waweru’s wife, Ann Wanjiku, urged authorities to dispossess Waweru of the “grabbed property” and the inheritance dispute taken to court.

When reached for comment by K24 Digital, Alice Waithaka said she was not ready to “prosecute the matter publicly”.