This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
On Wednesday, a somber procession took place in Embu County as the bodies of Ann Ndegi and her daughter Purity Wanjiru were finally laid to rest. The two women had been murdered in Machakos last October, and their bodies had been at the Chiromo Mortuary in Nairobi for weeks.
However, their burial was delayed due to a dispute between the family and the Nairobi church where they worshipped. The church had taken the bodies from the mortuary, intending to conduct a requiem mass before releasing them to the family. But the family had other plans, and they were determined to see their loved ones buried in Embu, according to their cultural traditions.
According to family members, the church's actions were a source of great distress. 'The graves were ready in the morning. We were kept waiting the whole day,' a mourner said. As the day wore on, some mourners began to leave, but the family remained steadfast in their determination to see the burial take place.
Despite the expired burial permit, local administrators intervened and allowed the family to proceed with the burial. A local priest eventually blessed the grave and oversaw the lowering of the caskets, but there was no mass as had been planned.
The family had to seek out another priest to assist with the service, as the clerics from the Nairobi church had refused to accompany the body. The priest who was approached initially had refused to oversee the burial, citing the expired permit as the reason.
Despite the challenges, the family was able to see their loved ones laid to rest, and they were grateful for the support of the local community. The burial was a somber affair, but it was a necessary step in the healing process for the family.
Ann Ndegi and her daughter Purity Wanjiru were shot dead at Mlolongo area in Machakos County. No one has been arrested in connection with the murder.
Published on December 20, 2019.
