A family in Mwaktau, Mwatate Sub-County, Taita Taveta County have reburied their loved one after a secrete burial sparked exhumation and Legal dispute that made the family feel sidelined.
The late Pastor Edward Maghanga was reburied on April 29th, 2025, following his exhumation by family members a day earlier.
The family claims his body was stolen and buried secretly by his wife, Pasisi Wasai.
Despite seeking legal redress, the family says they were unable to obtain a court order for exhumation and took matters into their own hands.
According to the family, on April 16, 2025, Pasisi allegedly removed her husband’s body from the morgue and buried him secretly on a farm in Vindo, Voi Constituency.
The burial reportedly took place without the knowledge or involvement of the deceased’s relatives, prompting them to seek a court order to reclaim the body.
The first court hearing, held online on April 28, 2025, left the family feeling sidelined and frustrated. Led by the late pastor’s mother, Hannah Malemba, the family proceeded to exhume the remains and transport them to Mwaktau in Mwatate Constituency, where a grave had originally been prepared before the secret burial.
A reburial was conducted on April 29, and the family stated that this fulfilled their wishes and that they now seek peace with the wife’s family.
Although another hearing is scheduled for June 16, 2025, the family insists they have dropped the case, emphasizing that their primary concern was ensuring that their loved one was laid to rest in Mwaktau.
Meanwhile, formal investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding Maghanga’s death, during which he allegedly suffered fatal head injuries and 18 broken ribs after being struck with a blunt object, according to the family.
