By KPC Reporter
A video that shows a woman being assaulted at a graveside has caused national outrage and condemnation.
The footage which has spread like rapid fire has attracted response from the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja.
Also Read
A statement dispatched by police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga Monday evening said three men allegedly appearing in the video have been arrested.
The trio are in custody pending processing and arraignment, according to the statement.
Police confirmed that the incident occurred at Kiambere village of Nyamira County on Friday 21st.
In the terse statement, police condemned the incident saying investigations have commenced.
“This incident is not only unfortunate but also deeply regrettable as it is devoid of civility and human dignity,” the statement says.
Further, Nyaga said the victim had been located.
A picture of the three suspects has been flying online since they got arrested Monday afternoon.
Members of the public who have seen the video also want the fourth suspect, who appears to assault the victim most to be arrested.
Sources told KPC that the heavily built man went into hiding but police are pursuing him.
In the video, a woman is also seen shouting and slapping the victim as other mourners scream and shout.
The video was probably filmed by a mourner using a cellphone.
The footage surfaced online on Sunday and became a topic of discussion in radio stations targeting Abagusii listeners on Monday.
Sources indicate that the victim had lost her estranged husband and she was unwilling to fully participate in his burial as per the dictates of Gusii culture.
According to the culture, a widow and other family members are expected to be the first ones to return the soil into the grave when the body has been lowered.
After that, the grave diggers should fill it.
This is considered as an act of honour and acceptance that the loved one is gone.
It was also used to chain a widow not to vanish and remarry elsewhere as it would terminate the departed man’s lineage.
The returning of the soil should however be done voluntarily.KPC established that the victim is a nurse with two children and a customary marriage with the departed man had faced serious challenges.
As a result, she had left the home and only returned to witness the man’s send-off.
According to the culture, a marriage is sealed once dowry is paid and remarrying is unacceptable unless the first union is considered cancelled by the parents of the affected couple.
Police said the suspects had been taken into custody to be processed and arraigned soon.
