A widow at Arus Village, Solai in Nakuru County is crying for justice in what seems to be a land succession tussle following the death of her husband in November 2023.
Fancy Kilach- widow to the late Kiprono Cheruiyot says her life is now in danger as she has been receiving threats from people she says are well known in the family.
The tussle has seen her two-bedroom permanent house set ablaze on August 8, 2024 leaving the widow homeless.
She narrated to journalists that she has been receiving several threats from known people who also stole all her animals and cut down trees in the compound- a matter that she reported at Solai Police station.
Even as the widow counts loss amounting to Ksh 1.5 million, she says no action has been taken against the culprits.
According to her, the succession tussle in the polygamous family of the late Cheruiyot who had 6 wives (three of whom are already deceased) is all about threatening her to move out.
“The threats from the other members of the family have been that I should leave this home since Mzee is no more,” she said.
The emotional and terrified widow was however quick to note that she wonders why the other family members were fighting her yet the late Cheruiyot had already sorted out all the wives and their children in terms of property.
She revealed that of the over 90 acres of land, the late had allocated each of the family members, with her getting 20 acres and transfer done.
The troubled widow and mother of 5 is now calling on security agencies to step in and ensure that she gets justice over the matter.
“No one has been arrested since I reported the matter. The worst is that they are known and in fact the suspect had a murder case,” she said.
Sentiments echoed by Francis Chebole- brother to the widow who says he is surprised that the sister has suffered a lot since the death of the husband.
According to him, his sister was legally married and even dowry was made by her deceased husband and that during the burial she was recognized as one of the widows.
He added that it is worrying that even after reporting the issues to Solai Police station, no suspect has been arrested.
“I have been following up this issue since my sister informed me. I wonder why the tussle yet she was legally married and even dowry made. We are just calling on police to do thorough investigations and ensure that the culprits are brought to book,” he said.
However, in an interview with area Chief Patrick Muok admitted that the tussle began after the death of Kiprono Cheruiyot.
He revealed that the widow has in the past reported about the theft of her animals and now the house being torched.
While confirming that the widow is a member of the late Cheruiyot’s family as she was legally married, the local administrator admitted that the whole tussle is about that land succession.
He was however quick to point out that the matter is under investigation and sooner than later the culprits will be brought to book.
“The widow has reported several issues before among them threats and theft of her animals and now the latest incident where her house was set ablaze with everything in it. The matter is under investigations and we believe justice shall be served,” he said.