A Nairobi court has issued an injunction halting the burial of KEPSHA boss Johnson Nzioka following a legal dispute filed by a woman seeking recognition as his legitimate daughter.
The injunction comes after Catherine Ndanu moved to court, accusing her stepmother, Ruth Kyengo, and Lee Funeral Home of excluding her from the burial arrangements for Nzioka, who passed away on February 16, 2025, after a fatal car accident along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway near Athi River.
Ndanu, represented by lawyer Muturi Andrew, has demanded to be acknowledged as the deceased’s daughter and included in the funeral plans, which are scheduled for February 28, 2025.
She claims that despite Nzioka’s lifelong support for her, she has been deliberately shut out of the burial preparations, which have been coordinated without her involvement.
In her court filing, Ndanu explained that she was born from Nzioka’s first marriage to Ann Mule in 1991 and that despite their separation in 1999, Nzioka continued to provide both financial and moral support until his death.
Ndanu further revealed that the family, led by her stepmother Kyengo, is denying her identity as Nzioka’s daughter, stating that she is not entitled to partake in his final rites.
“My father always supported me, both financially and emotionally, and he introduced me to Kyengo and the rest of the family as his daughter,” Ndanu said in her court documents.
“Despite this, I’ve been completely excluded from any discussions about his burial, causing me deep emotional pain.”
Her lawyer, Muturi Andrew, argued that Ndanu’s exclusion from the funeral planning has caused unnecessary psychological distress and emphasized that she has made multiple attempts to be involved.
“She has tried every possible means to reach out, including working through the burial committee, but Ruth Kyengo has remained adamant and refused to involve her,” said Andrew.
Ndanu is now seeking several court orders, including one to compel Kyengo to recognize her as Nzioka’s daughter and allow her to participate in the funeral arrangements, including delivering a tribute during the burial ceremony
Second, Ndanu is asking for an injunction preventing Kyengo from proceeding with the burial without her involvement.
Ndanu remains determined to honor her father’s memory.
“I want to give my father the respect he deserves, and it is my right to be involved in his final arrangements,” she said.
