A widow who was violently assaulted during her estranged husband’s burial has spoken out, revealing that she refused to partake in a traditional funeral rite after being warned it could affect her future.
The woman, whose name has been withheld for her safety, said that despite a troubled marriage, she always respected her late husband. However, she had been living separately from him at the time of his death in a road accident.
“We had a troubled marriage, but I always showed my husband respect,” she said in a video clip seen by TV47 Digital.
During the funeral in Kiambere, Mwongorisi Sub-location, mourners demanded that she throw soil into the grave—a symbolic act of bidding farewell. When she declined, several men attacked her, whipping her in front of the crowd.
“I had been warned earlier by someone that if I threw soil into the grave, I would not be able to move on with my life,” she explained. “My children are young. I’m equally young.”
The woman also says that in the midst of the melee, the villagers threw soil from the grave all over her body. “Walijaribu kuniwekea mchanga kwa mdomo, wakanifunua nguo zote wakaniwekea hapa ndani. Waliniwekea mchanga kwa masikio kila mahali. Wakanirusha kwa kaburi ndani wakazika viatu zangu na nywele.”
She is now crying for justice: “Mother-in-law alisimama akasema watoto watabaki hapa na watasomeshwa kwa hivyo siyo lazima watoto warudi Narok. Vile chifu na maaskari wake walitoka na kuenda, pastors wakaenda, vurugu zikaanza. Kumbe haya mambo yalipangwa na mimi sijui. Penye nimefanyiwa C-Section, mara mbili, nilikanyagwa na nikaumia sana.”
Witnesses reported that some family members accused her of being responsible for her husband’s death. In a desperate bid to clear her name, she offered to swear by the Bible, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
The National Police Service (NPS) swiftly condemned the assault, calling it “deeply regrettable and devoid of civility.” Law enforcement officers confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to the incident.
“The victim has since been located, and three suspects were swiftly arrested. They remain in custody pending processing and arraignment,” NPS stated.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that the widow had been contacted by her mother-in-law, requesting that she bring her children to the burial. However, when she sent a relative in her place, the family insisted she must be physically present. This demand set the stage for the shocking attack that was widely shared on social media.
As investigations continue, authorities urge the public to respect the rights and dignity of all individuals, especially during sensitive cultural and family disputes.
