Drama as man, 93, secretly buries wife over family land row

Drama as man, 93, secretly buries wife over family land row

There was drama and shock in Kamwiyoni village, Murang’a County after it emerged that a 93-year-old man single-handedly buried his 70-year-old wife at a public cemetery without involving any member of his family, friends or neigbhours.

The deceased, Susan Mugure Gachuma, who died of cancer, had been admitted at Murang’a Level V hospital at the time of her death.

Her daughter, Ruth Wangari Gachuma, narrated how she paid her mother a visit in the hospital last Friday only to find her dead after which she informed her father, Gachuma Gacheru had made burial plans.

Mugure, whom Gacheru married 50 years ago after the death of his first wife, is the one, according to Wangari, who had cared and brought up all of his children.

Last Saturday, the two families held a meeting to discuss the burial of their mother, where it emerged that the first family objected her burial in the family’s land at Kamwiyoni suggesting that instead, she be buried at the neighboring Kionjoini village.

The second family objected the proposal on grounds that the land in Kionjoini was surrounded by controversy.

It later emerged that Gacheru sided with the first family and threatened to bury Mugure at the cemetery if they did not agree to bury her in Kionjoini village. His argument was that even his own mother is not buried at the family land and no curse had befallen him or his children.

On hearing this, the second family walked out of the meeting.

Come Monday, the father made real his threat. He went to Murang’a cemetery, enquired about the charges, paid and directed the cemetery caretaker Mr. Samuel Mwangi to dig a grave.

He then made it to the mortuary, bought a casket for KSh.7,000 and even forced the mortuary attendants to put her in a body bag after he refused to buy new clothes.

The cross was another center of controversy, it bore just Susan Mugure Gachuma’s initials, SMG.

The casket was then carried to the cemetery and, sensing something unusual, the cemetery attendant insisted that he must document the burial “just in case.”

He got a photographer who took just three photos.

After the lone-ranger burial was over, Gachuma went back home and joined mourners briefly before retiring for the day.

The following day, Mzee Gachuma decided to come forward with the truth and, infront of his children and mourners gathered, he broke the news.

“I buried your mother yesterday and that chapter is now closed,” he said and went on with his life.

Mugure’s daughters are now crying out to the government to ensure that their mother is given a decent send off and that the land squabbles between the two families be resolved.

 

Tags:

murang'a county mortuary attendants cemetery caretaker Mr. Samuel Mwangi dig a grave. document the burial family land Gachuma Gacheru Kamwiyoni village mortuary Murang'a cemetery Susan Mugure Gachuma

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