Court finally allows first wife to bury his dead husband after long fights with second wife

In a landmark decision, the Keroka Law Courts have ruled that the body of the late Wilfred Nyakundi Omari will be buried at his ancestral home in Mong’oni, Kitutu Masaba, Nyamira County.

The ruling ends a prolonged dispute between his first wife, Rose Kemunto, and his second wife, Jackline Kemunto who had both laid claim to the burial rights following his passing in early June after a long illness.

Senior Magistrate Collins Ombija declared the ruling, emphasizing that Nyakundi, a respected head teacher at Matunwa Primary School, was born in Mong’oni, where he possessed ancestral land and where his first wife holds a pivotal role in the community.

This decision validates the cultural and familial norms that dictate burial sites within the region.

The magistrate further stipulated that the second wife has 24 hours to file an appeal against the ruling; failure to do so will be interpreted as her acceptance of the court's decision.

This provision has sparked further discussions among residents about the implications and respect for familial traditions in such sensitive matters.
The ruling has been met with enthusiasm from the local community, with many residents celebrating the decision. “We’ve been waiting for this day, and we thank God for the ruling. We thank the court for the wise judgment; the teacher was supposed to be buried in his home,” expressed one local resident, reflecting the sentiments of the community.

Our efforts to reach out to the second wife to get to know her side of the stoy if she was satisfied with the judgement reached a dead end.

Wilfred Nyakundi Omari's body is scheduled to be taken from Nyansiongo Mortuary and laid to rest in his home in Mong’oni on Sunday August 4, 2024.

As the date approaches, residents are preparing to honor the late teacher in a manner reflective of their cultural traditions and the court's decree.

READ MORE: Two wives fight over the body their dead husband in Nyamira County