This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
On August 4, 2019, a group of Luo Council of Elders made a surprising demand regarding the late Kibra Member of Parliament Ken Okoth's widow, Monica Okoth.
According to the group's leader, Nyandiko Ongadi, Luo cultural traditions dictate that a wife should be inherited by her husband's family after his death.
Ongadi stated that Monica Okoth can be inherited by one of Ken Okoth's elder brothers, or any relative of the late politician if the brothers are not interested.
"If any of the brothers are not interested, any relative of the MP can fulfill the cultural right by inheriting the wife," Ongadi said.
The group also wants Monica Okoth to participate in certain rituals at her late husband's home in Homa Bay County, as the family performs ceremonies to honor Ken Okoth's memory.
"When a body is not buried, a banana stem is buried to symbolize the same. All family members should be present at that ceremony," Ongadi said.
Ken Okoth passed away on July 26th, 2019, after succumbing to colorectal cancer while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital. He was cremated at Kariakor Crematorium in Nairobi on the same day.
The elders have also requested that Monica Okoth provide proof that her husband left a will stating that he should be cremated.
