Allow us bury MP as DNA test is done, widows tell woman
Mrs Christabel Murunga (centre), the wife of fallen Matungu MP Justus Murunga, is consoled by relatives and friends in Mumias.
The widows of Matungu MP Justus Murunga are pleading with the woman claiming to have had children with the fallen legislator to let the burial set for November 28 proceed even as she fights for recognition.
Ms Christabel Murunga and Ms Grace Murunga, through lawyer Patrick Lutta, have told the court in an affidavit that Agnes Wangui Wambiri, who claims that Mr Murunga is the father of her two children, should be allowed to take DNA samples to verify paternity.
“In order for justice to be served to all parties, we have no objection to the plaintiff’s medical experts taking samples from the deceased’s body for DNA analysis to determine the alleged children’s paternity,” the widows have stated in their response to a suit filed by Ms Wambiri. Ms Wambiri moved to court on Wednesday and obtained an injunction stopping the burial of the MP pending the determination of her suit, in which she wants the recognition of her two children.
“The injunction order issued is disruptive as the burial for the deceased has been set for November 28, in Matungu constituency, Kakamega County. That grave injustice will be caused if the injunction is maintained and the burial arrangement scuttled and the DNA return a negative result,” the widows say in their affidavit.
Public health
The other reason they cite for asking the court to lift the injunction and allow the burial to proceed as planned is because the public health department has directed the family to inter the body not later than November 28. Moreover, they say, many of Mr Murunga’s friends have made travel arrangements for November 27 and 28 and they would be greatly inconvenienced if the burial was to be delayed.
According to the widows, if the court cannot lift the injunction, then Ms Wambiri should be required to deposit a security of Sh10 million to take care of the mortuary and other funeral expenses. Parliament, they say, will only pay the mortuary bills up to November 26 after which the family will be required to step in if the body will not have been removed by then.
They also say their husband never told them of Ms Wambiri or the children. Also, that Ms Wambiri did not make any contact with them before heading to court.
Mr Murunga died on November 14 due to Covid-19 complications. The body is preserved at the Lee Funeral Home, which has been listed as a defendant in the suit by Ms Wambiri.
