Residents of Lwandeti Ward, Lugari Constituency, Kakamega County, witnessed an unusual funeral ceremony on Saturday after a man proceeded with the burial service of his wife despite her body not being present following a dispute with her family.
The deceased, identified as Pricillah Nanjala, a teacher at Teremi Boys High School in Bungoma County, was buried in a separate funeral held at her family’s home in Sikhendu on the same day.
Her husband, Joseph, said he made the difficult decision to hold the funeral as an act of love after disagreements over the release of her body prevented him from burying her at their matrimonial home.
Despite the absence of the body, the funeral service was conducted in the normal manner, with a banner bearing Pricillah photo and tribute message displayed at the venue as mourners gathered to pay their last respects.
Joseph revealed that he and Pricillah met in 2022 and had lived happily together. The couple had two children. Although he declined to disclose the cause of the disagreement with his wife’s family, he maintained that the family had acknowledged their marriage.
The emotional ceremony drew relatives, friends, members of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and Lwandeti MCA Dan Mukhwami. The service was officiated by the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church from Nzoia.
During the ceremony, local elders condemned the deceased’s family for denying Joseph the opportunity to accord his wife burial rites at her matrimonial home.
Lwandeti Chief Thomas Luvonga, who attended the ceremony, condoled with the bereaved family and confirmed that Pricillah was a resident of the area. He urged the two families to seek peace despite the circumstances surrounding the burial.
