Court allows Rachel Wandeto’s family to bury her, denies husband's request

• Rachel Wandeto died following a petrol attack, weeks after gaining attention for having a tattoo of President William Ruto on her shoulder
• Her husband claimed he was excluded from the burial plans by her mother and siblings, who gave reasons for not including him in the planning
• The family disputed the burial decision, stressing his commitment during her hospitalisation and their long marriage because he had not paid any dowry

Nairobi, Kenya: The late Rachel Wandeto will now be buried at her family home, not at her husband’s place, thanks to a court ruling that showed the two were not legally married.

Wandeto sadly died a week ago after a petrol attack, only weeks after she rose to the limelight with a tattoo of President William Ruto on her shoulder and with a political slogan.

Rachel Wandeto’s husband lamented that he had been sidelined in the burial plans, with her mother and siblings insisting that she will be buried in her father’s home in Kirinyaga.

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The widower’s family said the decision was unfair because he stood by the singer until her last breath in the hospital, after the petrol attack.

How long was Wandeto ‘married’?

“They were married for 14 years and have two kids. It shocks me that he cannot bury her because of unfulfilled dowry requirements. Rachel was close to me like a sister. Why can’t my brother bury his wife?” she lamented on behlafof her brother.

Wandetos body had been denied at Montezuma Funeral Home for one month and Judge Harrisson Mwnagi has said that there was nothing to show that she was anybody’s wife.

“Although Peter Njaamba was the father of the two children who were left behind, that was not proof enough that he could bury the body,” said the judge.

“We have proved that no customary marriage was done,” said the lawyer of Wandeto’s family.

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The family will now go back home and set a date for the burial, and Wandeto’s husband has not yet shared whether he will attend the burial or not.

How did Kenyans react to the story?

@beckymbesa9746:

“Thank you, hapo sasa,. Watu wengi hawajui kusema mke wangu umaanisha nini.”

@Marthamary3377-nk3uu:

“At least that’s justice, mke ni wako kama ushamlipia mahali hio story zingine ni come and stay.”

@fabianjoy:

“Sad.”

@Nankaaamau:

“My goodness what’s then watoto mungu kubuka watoto saaana.”

@James-sj7eb:

“Is the caption accurate to state the unverified cause of the attack? The editor needs to tone the messaging.”

Wandeto lost her brother and father last year

Another story revealed how the family of gospel musician Rachel Wandeto had also lost their father and brother last year, and now they are facing another burial.

Wandeto was later admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after the incident in Kasarani because of severe burns, where she breathed her last.

Wandeto lost her brother and father in 2025, and her heartbroken mother is dealing with the loss of a daughter barely a year later.

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Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS