Former minister’s burial plans hit by family row

By Wahome Thuku

A family row has erupted over the burial of former Cabinet minister Arthur Kinyanjui Magugu, who passed away last week.

Jacquiline Njambi Kinyanjui, who claims to be Magugu’s daughter, has filed a suit at the High Court seeking to be allowed to participate in the burial scheduled for Friday.

But an urgent application to have the burial stopped was rejected by High Court Judge David Onyancha.

Ms Kinyanjui, 36, filed the suit at the Milimani Court in Nairobi claiming she had been sidelined in all the burial arrangements.

She filed the case through lawyer Irungu Kangata against Magugu’s first wife Margaret Wairimu. Ms Kinyanjui says she is the daughter of Magugu’s second wife Maria Wambui Njuguna.

Magugu, a former Githunguri MP, died on Saturday at his home in Kiambu after a long illness.

Claim

Kinyanjui claims Magugu’s first wife has sidelined her despite initial indications that she would be involved. She also claims that Wairimu has published falsehood that she is not Magugu’s daughter.

A birth certificate she attached to the application indicates she was born on June 14, 1976 at Mater Hospital in Nairobi. It names Magugu as the father.

She also attached notes by Magugu to her mother forwarding her upkeep and education fees.

Kinyanjui said the former minister supported her in his lifetime and that she helped him when he was ailing.

She says the family had excluded her name in the newspaper obituaries and diminished her economic prospects.

“As a result I have suffered mental anguish and distress and also pecuniary loss,” she told the court.

She said Magugu and his wife are bound by the Kikuyu burial customs, which dictates that all children must be involved in the funeral preparations of the deceased.

Kinyanjui claims her stepmother had restrained her from attending the funeral meetings at the deceased’s home in Ridgeways.

She wants a declaration that excluding her from the funeral arrangements and burial rites is unlawful and illegal. The case will be heard this morning.