Kirinyaga Woman Weds Dead Husband at Funeral
Kirinyaga Woman Weds Dead Husband at Funeral
Kirinyaga Woman Weds Dead Husband at Funeral
The burial and “wedding” of Martin Gitari, a man who tragically died three weeks before his planned wedding, took place at Our Lady Consolata Rukenya Church in Gichugu on Saturday. Residents of Kirinyaga County were treated to an unusual event.
On Saturday, March 16, 2024, 60-year-old Martin Gitari passed away from a brief illness, leaving his fiancée, Beatrice Muthoni, behind. The wedding was set for Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the same church as the funeral, which the couple had been looking forward to.
Martin’s family, under the direction of his sister Pear Wambui, made the emotional choice to merge the funeral and wedding rites in spite of the somber circumstances.
“We are celebrating two occasions, burying him and at the same time celebrating his marriage,” Wambui explained, emphasizing the significance of honoring Martin’s wishes.
It was Father Sammy Njoroge’s (Kutus Catholic Parish) first time presiding over such an unusual ceremony.
“We’ve done exactly what he wanted on this occasion—my first since becoming a priest,” Father Njoroge said, emphasizing how crucial it is to carry out Martin’s last desires.
Martin’s bereaved fiancée, Beatrice Muthoni, started the sequence of events by putting his wedding ring on his deceased husband’s finger at the mortuary. They then went to the church for a lavish ceremony that included song, dancing, and cake cutting.
Beatrice celebrated the “wedding” at the church, where her grandson put a ring on her finger.
Martin Githaka’s brother Daniel Githaka said, “Today we are celebrating two occasions for my late brother because he had already planned his wedding, but he died before the wedding day.”
Beatrice Muthoni experienced both joy and sorrow when she put the wedding band on Martin’s finger.
“The person who placed the wedding ring on me to symbolize his grandfather as my spouse was my grandson Felix Gitari. She said, “I’m happy and sad at the same time,” perfectly expressing the day’s range of feelings.
Following the “wedding,” Beatrice—who had been wearing a wedding gown the entire time—changed her clothes and went to Gichugu to see her late husband be buried.
