Murang’a man to ‘sell’ daughters, family cow to bury wife

Peter Njoroge from Kaganda village, Murang’a county, needs to raise more Ksh.1.8 million to offset a medical bill that has seen his wife’s body detained at a Nairobi hospital for three months.

Mr. Njoroge, who is piss-poor has only managed to raise Ksh.100,000 and he is getting desperate so much so that he is willing to sell off everything – his land, only cow and shockingly, his own children; four grown daughters, ranging in age from 24 to 36 years, all unmarried.

It is believed he is looking for dowry so he is open to suitors for his daughters. His only son is married.

His wife, Lucy Wairimu died on November 30 from Kidney failure and her bill at the time was Ksh.1.8 million, money he did not have which led to the hospital detaining her body until he pays up. Her being in the mortuary for three months means the bill has accrued.

The villager pitched a tent right in the middle of his compound after the wife died as he planned her burial back in December and, fearing to be seen as having given up, the tent is still standing even as the world around him seems to have moved on.

Though family members set out seats everyday, neighbours no longer turn up for funeral meetings saying that without a body to bury, there is simply no point of planning a funeral.

He holds funeral meetings that are only attended by his daughter-in law and grandchildren.

So Mr. Njoroge and his children spend their days under the tent, waiting for help three months after Wairimu’s death and refusing to give up hope.