This archive report was first published on 1 December 2019.
On September 22, 2019, Andear Mwangi, a 35-year-old Kikuyu woman, passed away at Nairobi South Hospital due to a long-term liver condition.
However, her death has become a source of contention between her family and her husband, Charles Emedo, a Nigerian man who claims to have lived with her for nine years and has three children with her.
According to Lydia Mwathathi, Andear's mother, Emedo is unknown to the family and therefore cannot bury her without their consent.
"The man has never visited us and we are not aware that he was the one who was living with our daughter," Mwathathi stated.
Emedo, however, disputes this claim, saying he has been living with Andear for nearly a decade and that they have three children together.
The family of the deceased presented the matter in court on October 23, but Emedo did not appear, citing advice from his lawyers.
The two parties are now set to attend a court hearing on December 5, 2019, where the dispute over the burial rites and the deceased's children is expected to be resolved.
Police had insisted that the body of the deceased would not be moved until the matter is heard and determined by the court.
