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Body of diaspora woman exhumed over sh1M dowry
By Murimi Mwangi
Updated Saturday, February 8th 2014 at 09:38 GMT +3 0 inShare wmwangi@standardmedia.co.ke
The death of a Kenyan woman in the US in January has reignited a bitter dowry dispute between her husband and his in-laws.
The wrangle ended up in the exhumation of the womans body barely a day after the in-laws secretly buried her without involving the husband.
Juliet Gitahi, 60, who had been living in the US with her husband since 2006, died while being treated at Retreat Hospital in Virginia on January 2. The husband, Michael Gitahi, made speedy arrangements for the body to be transported back home for burial.
He intended to bury her at their matrimonial land in Muranga, unaware that the in-laws intended to inter her remains at their home in Tetu, Nyeri over alleged unpaid dowry. Michael made arrangements for the body to be transferred to Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Nairobi, where the in-laws received it.
They secretly transported the body to the Nyeri Funeral Home started organising for burial.
Restrain the in-laws
Michael landed into the country only to learn that the burial was slated for Monday January 20. The in-laws intended to bury his wife at a remote village called Kwa-Joseph, in Tetu.
His brother-in-law John Kaguo was allegedly demanding a bride price of Sh1 million, before he could let Michael bury his wife.
Worried, Michael speedily went to the chief magistrate court in Nyeri and filed an application to restrain the in-laws from burying his wife. Through his lawyer, Wahome Gikonyo, Michael said he would be deeply aggrieved if the in-laws were allowed to have their way.
I will suffer irreparable damage as she is my wife and I wish to bury her at our land in Kangema, Muranga, Michaels affidavit read.
The court granted the order on the same day when the burial was slated to take place. The judicial staffer sent to serve Kaguo with the order, arrived when Juliet had already been buried.
Village chief Mary Wairimu said the deceased was buried early in the morning without any ceremony.
Michael moved back to court the following day and filed an application for the exhumation of the body.
He persuaded the court to speedily grant his request, so he can bury his wife and fly back to America as he had already booked an air ticket, a copy of which was attached. The order was given and 30 minutes later, police officers, accompanied by grave diggers, arrived at the village to exhume the body.
Villagers were in shock as the body was exhumed and ferried to the Nyeri provincial hospital mortuary.
Kaguo however, defended his intention to bury the sister accusing the brother-in-law of attempting to force his way.
He did not even come to reconcile with us, he rushed to court, claimed Kaguo.
Read more at: Standard Digital News : : The Nairobian - Body of diaspora woman exhumed over sh1M dowry
Read more at: Standard Digital News : : The Nairobian - Body of diaspora woman exhumed over sh1M dowry
By Murimi Mwangi
Updated Saturday, February 8th 2014 at 09:38 GMT +3 0 inShare wmwangi@standardmedia.co.ke
The death of a Kenyan woman in the US in January has reignited a bitter dowry dispute between her husband and his in-laws.
The wrangle ended up in the exhumation of the womans body barely a day after the in-laws secretly buried her without involving the husband.
Juliet Gitahi, 60, who had been living in the US with her husband since 2006, died while being treated at Retreat Hospital in Virginia on January 2. The husband, Michael Gitahi, made speedy arrangements for the body to be transported back home for burial.
He intended to bury her at their matrimonial land in Muranga, unaware that the in-laws intended to inter her remains at their home in Tetu, Nyeri over alleged unpaid dowry. Michael made arrangements for the body to be transferred to Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Nairobi, where the in-laws received it.
They secretly transported the body to the Nyeri Funeral Home started organising for burial.
Restrain the in-laws
Michael landed into the country only to learn that the burial was slated for Monday January 20. The in-laws intended to bury his wife at a remote village called Kwa-Joseph, in Tetu.
His brother-in-law John Kaguo was allegedly demanding a bride price of Sh1 million, before he could let Michael bury his wife.
Worried, Michael speedily went to the chief magistrate court in Nyeri and filed an application to restrain the in-laws from burying his wife. Through his lawyer, Wahome Gikonyo, Michael said he would be deeply aggrieved if the in-laws were allowed to have their way.
I will suffer irreparable damage as she is my wife and I wish to bury her at our land in Kangema, Muranga, Michaels affidavit read.
The court granted the order on the same day when the burial was slated to take place. The judicial staffer sent to serve Kaguo with the order, arrived when Juliet had already been buried.
Village chief Mary Wairimu said the deceased was buried early in the morning without any ceremony.
Michael moved back to court the following day and filed an application for the exhumation of the body.
He persuaded the court to speedily grant his request, so he can bury his wife and fly back to America as he had already booked an air ticket, a copy of which was attached. The order was given and 30 minutes later, police officers, accompanied by grave diggers, arrived at the village to exhume the body.
Villagers were in shock as the body was exhumed and ferried to the Nyeri provincial hospital mortuary.
Kaguo however, defended his intention to bury the sister accusing the brother-in-law of attempting to force his way.
He did not even come to reconcile with us, he rushed to court, claimed Kaguo.
Read more at: Standard Digital News : : The Nairobian - Body of diaspora woman exhumed over sh1M dowry
Read more at: Standard Digital News : : The Nairobian - Body of diaspora woman exhumed over sh1M dowry