A burial service at Wanyororo Cemetery in Bahati, Nakuru, came to a standstill for over two hours as residents watched in disbelief, as three family members sat inside a grave.
The members were protesting demanding that their kin is taken back to the morgue or be buried together with them.
The wife of the deceased and his two cousins, jumped into the grave while the preacher was going on with the sermon and demanded that the burial is halted.
The deceased, 33-year-old Edward Mwangi, was murdered on December 3, after he allegedly went to confront one Stephen Mwangi whom he accused of having an affair with his wife, Mary Wangari.
Mwangi's parents and brothers, who live in Kirinyaga, had planned the burial despite Wangari's protest, insisting that her husband would only be buried after the suspect was arrested and charged.
"Those from Kirinyaga don't know the pain we are going through. We want justice for Mwangi. Burying him while his murderer is walking free is denying justice to the immediate family of the deceased," lamented Charles Mucheru, a cousin to the deceased.
The deceased's father Daniel Mwea, who had been watching in shock as the drama unfolded, finally lost his cool and ordered his other relatives to carry the casket to the grave and have his son buried by force.
"He is my son and he will be buried. Today! Get them out and lower the casket," Mwea ordered as the three were whisked away with kicks and blows.
Attempts by Dundori Member of County Assembly Michael Chege to calm them down were futile as they maintained their ground.
Women from the village, however, defended the widow, Wangari, and warned the Kirinyaga team from touching her even as she attempted to pull back the casket from being lowered.
Nonetheless, after order was restored, the deceased was hurriedly buried while the father led in songs, but wasn't joined by the residents who disapproved the act. No prayers were conducted.
According to the residents, after learning about the whereabouts of his wife on that particular night, Mwangi and his two friends descended on Stephen's house armed with a knife.
A resident who sought anonymity told the Standard that Mwangi and his friends attacked Stephen but were somehow overpowered by him. He immediately snatched the weapon from his attackers forcing them to flee for their safety.
Unfortunately, Mwangi was left in the house where the suspect used the same knife to stab him several times on the chest. It is reported that he died while struggling to make his way home.
The residents found his body the following morning within a farm next to Stephen's house.
However, the matter took a new twist at the Police Station when Wangari, wife to the deceased, accused them of denying her an OB number while allegedly setting free the suspect, who had admitted to committing the crime.
