Lover wants Murunga’s funeral stopped until she is fully involved

Matungu MP Justus Murunga when he appeared before the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Committee on the bribery allegations at Parliament on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

A woman claiming to be a mistress of the late Matungu MP Justus Murunga (pictured) has moved to court to stop his burial.

Agnes Wangui claims that they have two children out of their secret relationship with Murunga, but his family has conspired to lock her and the minors out of the funeral and burial arrangements.

Through lawyer Danstan Omari, she wants the court to stop Murunga’s widows Chistabel Murunga and Grace Murunga from conducting the burial, interment or cremation of the body pending determination of the suit.

“We also want the court to order for collection of DNA samples from the dead MP and the minors for comparison and to ascertain their paternity, and that the two children be at liberty to fully participate in the funeral arrangements of their biological father,” said Omari.

In the alternative, Omari asked the court to order Lee Funeral Home to preserve Murunga’s remains until licensed pathologists appointed by both parties take samples for the DNA tests.

Omari submitted that the MP at all times acknowledged the existence of Wangui and their two children but since he had never formally introduced them to his family, they will be locked out and denied opportunity to pay their last respect.

Wangui in her affidavit swore that she met Murunga in 2012 when he was a supervisor at Embakasi Ranching while she was a businesswoman selling beverages and snacks within Ruai area.

“Shortly after, we began a romantic relationship and out of the union we were blessed with two children. The first child was born in March 2013 while our second was born in November 2017,” swore Wangui.

She stated that since Murunga had informed her that he lived with his wife in Utawala Estate, he rented for her a house in Ruai where they stayed with her children.

Wangui swore that the MP used to cater for their monthly rent and upkeep, but their relationship started going south in September 2017 after he won the Matungu parliamentary seat.

“He did not want neither the public nor his family to learn of the existence of our two children and even denied me his identification card to secure their birth certificates. However, after several talks and mutual agreement, he resumed supporting his children until his death,” swore Wangui.

She stated that the minors are Murunga’s biological children, which he always acknowledged, and supported before his death on November 14.

According to Wangui, she fears that the MP’s family will deny her and her children a chance to participate in his funeral unless the court intervenes to protect their rights.

Murunga is said to have collapsed at his home in Matungu Constituency and was rushed to St Mary’s Mission Hospital in Mumias where he died on arrival over lack of oxygen machines to support him.

According to family reports, the MP had been battling diabetes and had been admitted at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu for two weeks before being discharged. His body was moved to the Lee Funeral Home on Sunday.