A Bungoma court on Tuesday ruled that a Kibabii University lecturer who died in a road crash be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Karabur, Kisumu County.
Charles Kenyalito, a father of four, died on Monday following a road crash that occurred at Matulo area when a matatu headed to Eldoret from Bungoma collided with a bus coming from Nairobi towards Malaba.
The deceased’s wife, Dorcas Kenyalito, wanted him buried in the land they had bought jointly at Kanduyi area in Bungoma County.
His family, however, moved to court to oppose this decision arguing that the home the deceased built with his wife in Kanduyi was not in accordance with their customs.
According to the late university don’s brother Patrice Lumumba, he (deceased) had previously been initiated as a Luo elder hence should be buried together with his clansmen as is tradition.
Judge CA Mutahi, in his ruling, ordered that the body of the deceased be moved from Life Care Hospital morgue and be taken to his ancestral home for burial according to Luo customs.
“We have no winner here since all of us have lost and we pray that the wife and her kids may support us to give our brother a befitting send off,” said Mr. Lumumba following the court directive.
Mrs. Kenyalito has however since disputed the ruling and vowed to appeal before the High Court.
Seven people, including a second year student from Kibabii University, died during the July 1 accident that claimed the deceased’s life.
It has since been established that the driver of the matatu was drunk-driving when the crash occurred.
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