Battle looms over freedom fighter Wambui Otieno’s burial
The Umira Kager clan has vowed to block the burial of late veteran politician and freedom fighter Wambui Otieno ย in Upper Matasia Ngong.ย
Speaking to journalists, the Luo council of elder’s chairman Mr. Willis Otondi demanded that her body be interred at Nyalgunga village, in Siaya County.
Otondi said the clan will marshal every support to ensure that Wambui is laid to rest next to her late husband SM Otieno.
The family further maintains that they still recognize Wambui as their sister in law and would resist attempts by her second husband Peter Mbugua to have her body intered elsewhere.
The family also threatened to denounce the children of the late freedom fighter ย if they go against the wishes of the ย clan.
The late SM Otieno’s younger brother said that burying Wambui Otieno in the outskirts of Nairobi showed that the children did not recognize the legendry lawyer as their father.
Speaking at his home, Mr. Joash Ochieng Ougo ย said “I will assume that my brother died a bachelor, and did not have any children and this will cut our links because they have gone against the Luo customs,” declared Ougo.
He also pointed out that the children were free to make their own decisions since they were adults.
“The children have never come home since my brother was buried 25 years ago, this clearly indicates how they have neglected their home”, added Ougo.
He also said that according to Luo customs and traditions, a spouse should be interred next to her husband’s grave.
The controversial politician had prepared her grave 22 years ago on a six acre piece of land in Matasia, Ngong next to her late husband’s would be mausoleum which contains an empty coffin.
Mrs Wambui Otieno Mbugua, 75, captured media headlines in July 2003 when she married stonemason Peter Mbugua who was then only 25.
Wambui ย first rose to prominence in 1986 following the death of her husband and prominent criminal lawyer SM Otieno when she waged a court battle against the Umira Kager clan over Mr Otieno’s final resting place.
Source- http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?nid=72261
This wish cast in concrete 22 years ago on the mausoleum of the prominent lawyer on their six-acre farm at Upper Matasia perhaps best captures the character of the 75-year-old former freedom fighter who died on Tuesday. (Read: Wambui had dug her grave 20 years ago)
Source- http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Wambui+grave+stirs+old+rivalries/-/1056/1229010/-/8nktb8z/-/index.html