Kerugoya court clears burial of Rachel Wandeto after interment site row, declares she was not married to partner

Wandeto gained widespread recognition after tattooing an image of President Ruto on her body. Following her death, the President contributed KSh 1.6 million to support her funeral arrangements.

Her burial plans were halted on May 28, 2026, after her partner, Peter Njaramba, obtained a court order seeking to have her buried at their home in Murang’a County.

The move caused confusion among mourners gathered at Kerugoya Stadium, who had been waiting to receive Wandeto’s body from Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Kabati before being informed that the burial had been suspended pending a court ruling.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Resident Magistrate Harrison Kariuki ordered that Wandeto’s body be released to her mother, Sarah Njeri, for burial.

The court found that Wandeto and Njaramba were not legally married, noting that no dowry had been paid despite the couple having two children together.

The family was represented by lawyer Gitau Kahiga.

“The law provides that burial follows customary practices. The court found that Peter Njaramba had not traditionally married Racheal Muthoni Wandeto and directed Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home not to release the body to him,” Kahiga said after the ruling.

Wandeto will now be buried at Kabumbu Village in Kirinyaga Central. The family is expected to announce the burial date in due course.