Three suspects have been taken into custody by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on charges of abusing a widow during a funeral service at a cemetery.
Following a widely shared video that showed a woman being coerced into performing customary rites against her will, the three were taken into custody on Monday night.
A group of guys were seen carrying the woman and making her pour dirt into the grave of her divorced husband in the short video, which caused a stir on social media.
Detectives claim that the incident happened on March 21 when the woman, who had been married to her late ex-husband for more than nine years, became embroiled in a contentious family dispute.
After years of being apart from her ex-husband, she received a call from her mother-in-law asking her to take her kids to their father’s burial after he died in a car accident.
The woman was ambushed by her in-laws, who insisted that she participate in the burial rite of tossing earth into the grave, as the mourning family gathered to say goodbye.
They allegedly started beating her after she refused to carry out the customary rites, claiming she was to blame for her ex-husband’s passing.
Police officers were immediately notified of the event, and an investigation was started. The three suspects were apprehended in Nyamira’s Mwongorisi sub-location after being pursued.
In the meantime, investigators have begun a new wave of inquiries to find and capture more culprits in the upsetting event.
Speaking about the issue, National Police Service (NPS) Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the act was not only regrettable but also devoid of fundamental human respect and civility.
Nyamira County
— Sir Yona (@yona_sir) March 24, 2025
She separated from her husband and got remarried elsewhere.
The ex-hubby dies and she is dragged to his funeral and forced to throw soil into his grave.@ayogo mbona watu wenye wanashida hivi? Ruto Must Go pic.twitter.com/CuTuCC3OFj
