Money, dowry wars make deceased's mother resort to burying daughter at night

Tabitha Muthoni of Kamiigua Village was scheduled to be buried on Thursday afternoon but was eventually laid to rest at about 7 p.m.

The delay stemmed from a disagreement between her widower, John Bundi, and her relatives over the handling of burial arrangements and funds contributed by a burial welfare group.

Peter Waweru, a relative who was coordinating the family's burial plans, said Bundi declined to sign the necessary burial documents after learning that the burial group's funds had not been handed over to him.

"He said he had no objection to his wife being buried at their home, but wanted the burial arrangements to be handled jointly. That is why he refused to sign the documents," Waweru said.

Muthoni's cousin, Jamleck Muriithi, said an unresolved dowry issue also contributed to the standoff.

"At the same time, Bundi had not paid dowry. Elders agreed that under the circumstances, he would not preside over Muthoni's burial. That is why he refused to accompany the family to the mortuary," Muriithi said.

Another relative, Muthike Kiunga, said Bundi was unhappy because he had not been involved in planning the funeral.

"He wanted to know how much money had been contributed through the burial group and felt excluded from the process," Kiunga said.

The situation escalated when Bundi failed to show up at Kerugoya Hospital Mortuary on Thursday afternoon. Relatives later traced him, but further delays occurred after it emerged that he did not have his identification documents.

By the time Muthoni's mother, Janet Wanjiku, was ready to swear an affidavit to facilitate the burial process, it was too late to proceed with a daytime interment.

Some mourners accused Bundi of failing to take responsibility for family matters. They claimed he had sold part of his land and retained only a small portion. They also disputed claims that he had single-handedly raised the couple's children, saying Muthoni had entered the marriage with two children of her own.

Muthoni was ultimately buried at her mother's homestead in Kamiigua Village on Thursday evening instead of at her husband's home.