This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
Maureen Muthoni, a 31-year-old woman from Makongeni in Thika, died of pneumonia in September 2019 after spending five days in the intensive care unit at Nairobi Hospital.
Her family is yet to bury her remains, as her Nigerian husband, Charles Emedo, has blocked their efforts, claiming she was his wife.
However, Muthoni's family denies the allegations, stating that Emedo never visited them or paid dowry for their daughter.
The remains of Maureen have been preserved at Umash Funeral Home, with a bill of Ksh 2 million.
According to her mother, Lydia Nyamwathi, Muthoni distanced herself from her family after getting into a relationship with Emedo nine years ago.
‘My girl was very responsible until she met the Nigerian man. Before then, she used to take care of her siblings, including financing her younger sister’s education,’ Nyamwathi said.
Despite Emedo's claims, Muthoni's family had only met him once, in December 2018, when she was admitted to Karen Hospital for pneumonia treatment.
After her discharge, Emedo declined to let them meet her at her Karen home.
