Mourners were left in a state of confusion on Thursday when the funeral of Rachel Muthoni Wandeto was halted at Kabumbu village in Kirinyaga County due to a court order.
Wandeto recently died after being attacked by unknown assailants for allegedly tattooing President William Ruto’s image on her shoulder and chest.
Mourners had gathered in Kabumbu village, Kirinyaga Central Constituency, waiting for Wandeto’s body to be brought from Montezuma Funeral Home. However, they were informed that the funeral had been stopped after Wandeto’s husband, Peter Njaramba, had reportedly obtained a court order to prevent her burial.
According to the family, Njaramba wanted to bury Wandeto in Murang’a, but they refused, claiming that they had not recognised him as their daughter’s husband.
They claimed that Njaramba had not paid dowry and therefore could not be allowed to bury their daughter.
“We were ready to bury our daughter but when we went to the mortuary to collect her body, we were told there was a court order stopping the burial,” said Joseph Githinji Kimaru, the family’s spokesperson.
Mr Kimaru confirmed that a coffin had been purchased, a grave had been dug, and food had been prepared for the mourners.
“We will wait for the case to kick off, and we believe the truth will be established in court,” said Mr Kimaru.
Immediately after receiving the news, the mourners left the funeral venue, grumbling.
They said they loved Wandeto and had turned out in large numbers to give her a decent burial.
“The grave had been dug and we waited patiently for the arrival of the body. However we were shocked and confused when the deceased’s family announced that burial ceremony had been postponed,” mourner Bernard Mwangi said.
Government officials, who had arrived in the sprawling village to witness the burial of the songbird, were equally shocked.
Earlier, a funeral service at Kerugoya Stadium had also been cancelled after the same information had been communicated to the religious leaders.
However, sources claimed that the burial had been halted due to disagreement between the two families over how to spend the Sh1.6 million donated by President William Ruto for the funeral.
“The fight is about the cash. Everyone wants to benefit from the money that was given by the Head of State and other senior government officers,” said an administrator who sought anonymity.
Wandeto was a well-known gospel singer. A group of men in the Mwiki area of Nairobi attacked her. The family lamented the demonic nature of their daughter’s murder.
“We are in great pain over the death of our daughter, who was brutally eliminated. It will take long for us to forget the pain our daughter went through in the hands of her killers,” said Ms Sarah Njeri, her mother.
She described Wandeto as a talented musician who had entertained Kenyans in churches and other social places.
“Everyone liked her songs and here at home we loved her so much and we shall forever miss her,” Ms Njeri said.
The family said that Wandeto had worked very hard, and that her future would have been bright had she lived. Wandeto was attacked on May 15, 2026, and the following day, the family went to visit her at Kenyatta National Hospital, where she had been admitted for treatment.
“When we arrived at Kenyatta Hospital, we were shocked to see the condition of our daughter. She groaned in pain as she spoke and asked us to pray for her quick recovery. After consoling her, we left for home but later we were heart broken after learning that she had breathed her last as doctors attended to her,” said Ms Njeri.
The family demanded justice, saying that Wandeto had only expressed her opinion and that she didn’t deserve to be punished in such a brutal manner.
