Woman claiming to be Kajwang’s wife locked out of funeral parlour

In Summary

• The woman, identified as Faith Vivian Otieno, and her daughter Christie Otieno, 18, and some relatives were barred from the facility.
• She protested that she was the late senator’s legal wife and demanded to be allowed to view his body.
• She also demanded to be allowed to participate in funeral arrangements, saying she had been married to Kajwang' for 19 years.
• Rose Kajwang’ was inside the funeral parlour but later walked out accompanied by Siaya Senator James Orengo.

By EUNICE KILONZO
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Drama unfolded at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi on Friday after a woman claiming to be a legal wife of the late Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ was locked out of the funeral parlour.

The woman, identified as Faith Vivian Otieno, and her daughter, Christie Otieno, 18, and some relatives were barred from the facility.

She protested that she was the late senator’s legal wife and demanded to be allowed to view his body as well as participate in funeral arrangements.

“I have been married for 19 years to Otieno Kajwang’. We have two children, Christie, who just completed high school, and Ronnie Odinga Otieno, 19, who is in Kabarak University.

"Let it be known that I am not his girlfriend but his legal wife. In fact, when she (Rose Kajwang’) was in the UK, I was the one living with Kajwang’,” she said.

As the fracas ensued, Rose Kajwang’ was inside the funeral parlour but later walked out accompanied by Siaya Senator James Orengo at 12.30pm and boarded a waiting car.

She did not speak to reporters.

Later, Mr Orengo, accompanied by the late senator's brother Tom Kajwang', who is also the Ruaraka MP, said that funeral arrangements were under way and the results of the post-mortem to ascertain the cause of the senator's death would be released in two to three hours to the press.

The initial medical reports stated that Mr Kajwang’ died from a heart attack moments after getting to Mater Hospital on Tuesday night