Artistes clash with family as Jastorina is laid to rest

There was drama in Kagongo village of Mathioya, Murang’a County, during the burials of actress Nancy Nyambura a.k.a Jastorina and her mother Lucy Wangui as family members blocked artistes from taking over the Tuesday ceremony.

Police officers deployed to provide security fired in the air to avert a fight between the two sides. The artistes from Nairobi had attempted to take control of the ceremony from a local clergyman.

The actress’s sister, Carol Nduta and brother Sammy Njoroge caused a stir when they stood by her grave and vowed not to allow the artistes to conduct the ceremony before the police fired into the air and dispersed the crowd.

Ms Nduta accused the artistes of being disorderly and failing to help the family plan for the two burials.

“We cannot allow this to happen because you have come here drunk, with intentions to steal the show,” shouted Nduta.

The artistes had allegedly stormed a room where Nyambura’s remains were being kept awaiting the start of the ceremony, forcing the family to call for order.

Led by the emcee, James Njaria, the family expressed anger over the artistes’ behaviour and urged them to tone it down.

The artistes demanded the right to bury their colleague in their own style, which was rejected by the family.  

The artistes also accused Nyambura’s family of hiring thugs to frustrate their efforts to give their colleague a decent send-off.

Nyambura died at the Kenyatta National Hospital where she had been admitted with meningitis, just hours after being crowned the Best Performing Artiste in a TV Comedy at the Kalasha Awards last month.

It was double tragedy for the family when Nyambura’s mother died of shock on learning that her daughter had died.

The actress, who came from a humble background, was living with her uncle in Nairobi’s Dandora estate.