Burial of State officer delayed

Eve Adhiambo Okuku, who claims to be Mabeya’s second wife moved to court. [Courtesy]

The burial of Rachuonyo North Assistant County Commissioner James Mabeya had been set for April 10, 2021, at his home in Trans Nzoia, but was stopped after a woman moved to court.

Eve Adhiambo Okuku, who claims to be Mabeya’s second wife, filed a case on grounds that Mabeya’s first wife Pacificah Mabeya and three others had disowned her, and that they were planning to disinherit her.

Consequently, on April 8, the court issued an order stopping the burial until the case is concluded.

Ms Okuku claims that she legally married Mabeya on February 15, 2012. However, trouble started at an Eldoret hospital where Mabeya was receiving medical care.

She argues that the respondents threatened her when they went to visit Mabeya at the hospital and demanded to have Mabeya’s motor vehicle, a Toyota Fielder.

But Okuku declined to give them the vehicle which she claimed is registered in Mabeya’s name and hers.

“I later called the driver to come and pick the said vehicle from the hospital parking yard to Homa Bay Police Station. But the driver was later told to take it to Kendu Bay Police Station,” the affidavit read.

She claimed that her husband made attempts from his hospital bed to have the vehicle moved from Kendu Bay in vain.

The respondents filed a joint affidavit that objected Okuku’s’s claims. They argued that the late Mabeya solemnised his marriage on December 16, 2000, with Pacificah therefore he could not contract another marriage.

“The defendants also deny that the deceased was under the care of the complainant,” the affidavit read.

The case will be heard on April 28, 2021.