The Wandeto family in Kerugoya faced an emotionally charged moment as they proceeded with a burial ceremony for Rachel Wandeto despite not having her body.

The hearse arrived at the burial site empty, highlighting a bitter dispute over the burial permit, which is reportedly in the possession of Rachel’s husband.

Earlier, relatives attempted to collect her body from Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Nairobi but could not release it without the required documentation.

The husband, citing their 14-year marriage and two children, asserted his right to bury Rachel, while his relatives argued that the dowry had not been fully paid and that he was being sidelined in arrangements.

With the body still held at the morgue, mourners gathered at Kerugoya Stadium to honor Rachel’s life, even as the family and husband continued negotiations behind the scenes.The incident has drawn public attention, including previous mentions of support from political figures.

The event underscored the personal and legal complexities that can surround burial rites in Kenya, particularly when property, permissions, and family dynamics collide at a moment of grief.