Pastor denied the right to bury his wife in Teso

THERE was drama at Isogol Ikapel in Teso North district yesterday when a pastor lost the right to bury his second wife. Pastor Arnold Nyongesa of the Jerusalem Christian Church married Florence Adhiambo, a widow in 1985 as his second wife and was blessed with two children. Adhiambo had two more children with her late husband before he passed on in 1985.

Pastor Nyongesa's tribulations started when Adhiambo died at Kocholia District Hospital after an operation to remove a still-born baby. The child was buried at Nyongesa's home. As a double setback the woman's Iteso clan demanded for Sh10,000, the price of a cow, before their daughter could be buried.

Church members and the man's relatives helped fundraise the required amount to pave way for burial arrangements. The church's overseer Herbert Anunda from Kakamega then led the brief service which started at 3pm. It was devoid of speeches.

The body was then carried for more than 1km to her first husband's homestead where she was buried next to her first husband's grave. The priest said they cannot judge the embattled pastor.He said only God can judge him. “Let Florence go. God will decide her deeds and not human beings," Anunda said.

The chairperson Elimu ya Mtoto Msichana Foundation, Doris Wekesa advised widows not to remarry but instead stick to their first matrimonial homes. Wekesa said instead of remarrying, widows should join women groups or seek help from their clan or the government.