A widow in Nyamira County has spoken out after facing a brutal assault during the burial of her estranged husband, an incident that left her physically and emotionally scarred.
Mellen Mogaka, who traveled from Narok County to attend the funeral of her late husband, Joseph Osoro, recounted the ordeal that unfolded on March 21, 2025, in Kiambere, Mwongorisi. Osoro, a boda boda rider, had died in a road accident, and according to Mogaka, tensions arose when she refused to participate in a traditional burial ritual.
Speaking to the press, she revealed that she was pressured to perform a ritual that required her to toss soil into her husband’s grave. When she resisted, she was allegedly attacked by a group of men.
Mogaka described a terrifying night before the burial, claiming she was locked in a room with her late husband’s body.
“I spent the night with the body,” she told the Daily Nation.
The next day, as the burial proceeded, her in-laws allegedly forced her to the gravesite, demanding she comply with the ritual. Her refusal was met with violence.
“I tried to resist, but I was assaulted and beaten up. They insisted that I should throw a handful of soil into the grave as a sign of goodwill to the deceased,” she recalled.
The situation escalated, and the attackers reportedly threw her shoes into the grave before burying them with the body. In an attempt to escape, Mogaka fled towards a nearby tea plantation, but she was pursued and dragged back.
“They roughed me up, and I sustained injuries. I don’t know why they harassed me,” she said.
Cultural Tensions and Outrage
In the Abagusii community, the burial ritual in question is traditionally seen as a widow’s final farewell to her husband. However, critics argue that it serves to bind widows to the deceased and discourage them from remarrying.
The attack has sparked public outrage, with women’s rights groups and legal bodies condemning the act and calling for justice.
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya have all denounced the incident.
KEWOPA Chairperson MP Leah Sankaire strongly criticized the attack, stating that such acts of gender-based violence should not be tolerated.
“Such acts of gender-based violence, rooted in harmful cultural practices, must be denounced in the strongest terms. Justice must not stop at arrests; the perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she asserted.
Authorities have since arrested three suspects, though KEWOPA insists that more action is needed.
“This case must set a precedent that violence against women, regardless of cultural justifications, will not be tolerated,” Sankaire added.
NGEC Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa also weighed in on the matter, describing the attack as a reflection of entrenched gender-based violence.
“Harmful cultural practices like this persist due to fear of stigmatization and ostracization. These oppressive traditions blatantly contravene the Constitution and international human rights standards, which mandate gender equality and non-discrimination,” Jaldesa stated.
FIDA Kenya echoed similar sentiments, calling for a collaborative approach among law enforcement, community leaders, and cultural elders to end such harmful traditions.
Police Response
The National Police Service (NPS) also condemned the incident, calling it a violation of human dignity.
“The National Police Service has noted with utmost concern a disturbing video circulating on social media, which shows a woman being physically assaulted at what is believed to be a burial ceremony,” NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said.
Authorities have assured the public that investigations are ongoing, with pressure mounting to ensure justice is served.
