The emotional ceremony took place in Mboroti village in Ndeiya, where relatives, friends, and neighbours gathered to remember 33-year-old James Kamau Ndung’u.
Kamau is believed to have travelled overseas hoping to secure employment and improve the living standards of his family.
However, his journey took a tragic turn after he was allegedly recruited into military service and deployed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
However, his journey took a tragic turn after he was allegedly recruited into military service and deployed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to family members, communication with him became irregular before they eventually received information confirming that he had died on the battlefield.
With Kamau’s body yet to be returned to Kenya, the grieving family organised a mock burial ceremony as a way of giving him a dignified farewell despite the absence of his remains.
With Kamau’s body yet to be returned to Kenya, the grieving family organised a mock burial ceremony as a way of giving him a dignified farewell despite the absence of his remains.
During the symbolic event, mourners lit 33 candles representing each year of Kamau’s life. The quiet and emotional ritual left many in tears as the candles slowly burned down, symbolising the life that had been cut short far away from home.
His wife, Jane Wanjiku, struggled to hold back tears as she spoke about the difficult reality she now faces raising their young daughter alone.
She expressed deep pain over the fact that there is no grave where the family can visit and mourn their loved one.
“What will I tell our daughter when she asks about her father? I don’t even have a place where he is buried,” Wanjiku said as relatives tried to comfort her.
Kamau’s father, Ndung’u Kamau, used the moment to call on the Kenyan government to investigate the circumstances that led to his son’s recruitment into the war.
“What will I tell our daughter when she asks about her father? I don’t even have a place where he is buried,” Wanjiku said as relatives tried to comfort her.
Kamau’s father, Ndung’u Kamau, used the moment to call on the Kenyan government to investigate the circumstances that led to his son’s recruitment into the war.
He also appealed to authorities to help the family recover Kamau’s body so that he can be buried at home.
His mother also expressed heartbreak, saying no parent should be forced to mourn a child without a proper burial place.
“We raised him with love and hoped to see him succeed in life. Now he died in a war that is far from home,” she said.
The ceremony also attracted other families who believe their relatives may still be in Russia or fighting in Ukraine.
His mother also expressed heartbreak, saying no parent should be forced to mourn a child without a proper burial place.
“We raised him with love and hoped to see him succeed in life. Now he died in a war that is far from home,” she said.
The ceremony also attracted other families who believe their relatives may still be in Russia or fighting in Ukraine.
Many shared fears that more Kenyans could be trapped in the conflict after travelling abroad in search of jobs.
The incident has renewed concern about the increasing number of young Africans travelling to foreign countries for risky opportunities, sometimes ending up in dangerous situations far from their families and communities.
The incident has renewed concern about the increasing number of young Africans travelling to foreign countries for risky opportunities, sometimes ending up in dangerous situations far from their families and communities.
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