Residents of a village in Nakuru County were recently treated to a spectacle when a woman appeared at a burial ceremony and demanded a piece of land for her son.
Jane, a mother of one, claimed that the deceased was the father of her son and had promised to bequeath him a piece of land.
According to sources, Solomon, a businessman and father of four, married Jane ten years ago as a second wife. The first wife, Dorcas, lives in Ndunduri while Jane lived with Solomon in Nakuru town.
The first wife had no idea that her husband had a second wife. All she knew was that he had become busy as his business grew in leaps and bounds. His busy schedule would not allow him time to visit the family on weekends as he used to do before.
Solomon, however, got involved in a road accident and after his death, the secret he had hidden for years came as a rude shock to his family.
His burial took place in Ndunduri and was attended by Jane and her son. The two came dressed in black like other family members, to the surprise of everyone. Before the body was lowered into the grave, Jane tried to consult a few village elders about the issue of land but none would listen.
Some accused her oif preying on other people’s misfortunes. Everyone in the village knew Solomon to be a staunch Christian and church elder.
As the mourners gathered besides by the graveside, the pastor asked if the departed had any outstanding debts. This is in accordance with Kikuyu traditions before the dead are buried.
Jane seized the opportunity and shouted that the departed had an unfulfilled promise.
“I was married to Solomon for ten years and we had this boy whom he promised to give an acre piece of land in Ndunduri,” she said.
At first, the mourners mistook her for a drunk and tried to shout her down. The burial ceremony, however, was stopped to verify the allegations.
The pastor and village elders convened a quick meeting and called Jane. When asked to justify her allegations, she produced her son’s birth certificate bearing Solomon’s name as the father. She also showed them a marriage certificate. Dorcas could not believe her ears at this turn of events.
“I cannot believe that I was living with a hypocrite all this time. I will castrate him before he is laid to rest,” Dorcas swore.
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