This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
On a fateful day in 2015, Nathan's life took a dramatic turn when his wife, Kyalo, fell ill and was hospitalized. Diagnosed with a stroke, Kyalo's condition worsened, and her family, who had been at odds with Nathan, refused to let him visit her in the hospital.
As per Kamba customary law, a woman can divorce her husband by returning a piece of cloth known as 'mbiu ya ule' and tying it to her husband's door or tree. In a shocking turn of events, Nathan found the cloth tied to his door, and he was informed that his marriage to Kyalo had ended.
Days later, Kyalo passed away, and Nathan was denied the right to bury her in his village by her family. The dispute dragged on for 14 months, with Nathan determined to fight for his wife's body. He sought the help of a friend, who introduced him to Doctor Mugwenu, a traditional healer.
With Doctor Mugwenu's guidance, Nathan wore a special bracelet to the final court hearing, and miraculously, the judge ruled in his favor, ordering Kyalo's family to release her body for burial in Nathan's village. The judge warned that failure to comply would result in imprisonment.
Thanks to Doctor Mugwenu's intervention, Nathan was finally able to pay his last respects to his wife. The incident highlights the complexities of Kamba customary law and the importance of seeking help from traditional healers in times of need.
