This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
October 22, 2019, marked the beginning of a protracted tussle between a Kiambu family and a Nigerian national, Charles Emedo, over the body of their deceased daughter, Maureen Muthoni.
According to Muthoni's mother, Lydia Nyamwathi, the deceased was romantically involved with Emedo for about nine years but had not formalized their union.
Lydia claimed that her daughter lost touch with the family after her affair with Emedo blossomed, and it was not until December 2018, when Muthoni became sickly and was in and out of hospitals, that the family was allowed to see her.
Despite the family undertaking to pay all the hospital and mortuary bills, Emedo, who also holds Swedish citizenship, maintained that he would decide where to take the body.
"He had told us that he would decide where to bury our daughter and can in fact do it without our consent and presence. This made us suspect anything is possible with him as he lacks humanity," Lydia said.
The body is currently at Umash Funeral Home, and the family has since filed an affidavit seeking to prevent the management from issuing the remains to Emedo.
