The body of a 93-year-old woman finally has been finally buried by the family in Mbuani village, Machakos County after it stayed in a mortuary for 17 years.
Esther Nzakwa Kitivo died on August 31, 2004 at the age of 93 years but the burial could not be conducted because of a protracted land tussle.
Since her death, Nzakwa’s remains have been lying at Machakos funeral home but they buried on Saturday at her son Michael Musau Kitivo's home while the ongoing land case is yet to be determined.
There was police security during burial ceremony, which took about an hour.
According to her son Kitivo, Nzakwa was a disciplinarian who made sure her children went through formal education.
Kitivo added that the family has been hugely relieved by the interment as they have mourned for almost two decades.
Mortuary charges increased to over Ksh.3 million for the time the body was in the mortuary and the family resorted to calling on well wishers to assist in offsetting the bill.
The land dispute that delayed the interment has been discussed at length in the courts, however, the late Nzakwa has still not been declared the owner of the home.
Justice Beatrice Thuranira Jaden on March 28, 2014 ruled that the body should not be buried at Nzakwa’s matrimonial home, pointing out that
the court could not rely on traditional customs as testimony to decide on the interment of Nzakwa’s body.
In 2004, one of Nzakwa’s step-sons claimed to have consent from the Land Control Board thereby hindering the attempt to bury her body.
According to the consent, the home belonged to the step-son and he obtained a permanent injunction from a magistrate in Machakos.
However, the family was adamant about Nzakwa’s body being buried at her home.
She was the first of three wives of Gideon Kitivo Ndambuki, who died on December 13, 2000 aged 100.
Kamba customs dictate that the first wife should be buried adjacent to her husband at their matrimonial home.
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