Cop’s burial halted as second wife sues for inclusion, recognition

Mrs Trizar Ouma accused her co-wife Jane Ngugi of secretly transferring the body from Naivasha District Hospital Mortuary to Kikuyu Mission Hospital. [Courtesy]

A Nakuru court has issued a temporary injunction barring a family from burying a police officer who died of diabetes after the second wife went to court claiming that she was excluded from burial arraignment. 

Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui issued the orders against Jane Ngugi, the first wife of Bernard Ngugi, from conducting any burial or disposing of the body of the officer who was attached to Eburu Police Post in Gilgil.

Trizar Ouma who is the second wife to the deceased went to court claiming that Mrs Ngugi had deliberately excluded her and her two children from funeral and burial arrangements of the deceased.

“I got married to the deceased as the second wife after he separated with Mrs Ngugi, who was his first wife, Ms Ngugi has never lived with the decease for the past 10 years,” read the affidavit.

The affidavit further read that Ouma and Ngugi had lived together for seven years until August 24 where he succumbed to diabetes.

The woman also sought orders restraining the Kijabe hospital from releasing the body of the deceased to anyone whatsoever pending hearing of the application.

Ouma also sought orders for the temporary preservation of the deceased body at Kijabe until the DNA samples are collected in presences of licenced pathologists appointed by both parties.

The affidavit further sought orders from the court to include the widow and her children to participate in burial arrangements, rituals and tradition and the final send-off.

Ouma claimed that she only learnt about her husband burial through fellow officer from Eburu police post.

“Pending the hearing and determination of this suit, National Police Service Commission, Police Sacco, Pioneer Insurance ltd and Cooperative Bank of Kenya be restrained from releasing to Mrs Ngugi, the deceased benefits until success is done,” read the application. 

The deceased is set to rest on August 31 at a place unknown to Ouma.

Ouma accused Mrs Ngugi of secretly transferring the deceased body from Naivasha District Hospital Mortuary to Kikuyu Mission Hospital.

The case will be heard on September 2.