November 15, 2024

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Meet senior pastor who was married to Late secular Singer Murimi Wakahalf before he met his death

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Aged 32, popular Kikuyu musician Murimi Wakahalf had three wives, the first was Josephine Wanjiku (Nyatoro), who was an actress and died before he met the second lover, Nancy Karamu, and third wife Pastor Zaweriah Wang’ombe.

In the first marriage, the couple had a daughter, Grace Wambui Kanuthu, as was the case in the second marriage, which brought forth another girl who wasn’t named after the musician’s mother, according to Gikuyu traditions, after a family dispute.

The wife, Nancy, opted to name her daughter after Murimi’s aunt who resides in Kirinyaga.

Murimi didn’t have any children with his third wife, pastor Zaweriah, by the time of his death. Those who attended the burial planning meetings reported that Zaweriah and Murimi’s mother controlled everything at Blue Spring hotel.

The second wife was deserted even during the burial ground at some point she wasn’t acknowledged by the mother-in-law.

Late musician Wakahalf.

Pastor Zaweriah Wang’ombe rose to fame in January 2015 immediately after the death of the late Benga star.

Zaweriah, as she likes to be addressed, knocked the Standard Media doors and told one of the editors that she had a story to tell and needed it written by the Nairobian publication.

She narrated how she married the late Wakahalf and intrigues that probably led to his death, introducing claims of witchcraft as the possible cause of death of the musician.

By then, Zaweriah and Murimi’s mother, Grace, were very close friends and together, they accused the second wife Nancy of bewitching the late Murimi.

While exclusively speaking to Opera News, Nancy denied any involvement in foul play.

It was reported that Wa Kahalf had hinted to his mother how he kept hearing summons from Igembe North witchdoctors in Meru. He insisted that those ‘doctors’ kept calling him in his dreams and requested to be taken for treatment.

Zaweriah with Wakahalf when they were dating.

On their way from Igembe North to seek witchdoctors’ treatment, Murimi was in horrifying pain. His mother narrated that at one point, he requested that they inflate his tummy that had bulged out.

“He was screaming in pain and at some point, Murimi requested that we deflated his tummy to reduce pain, he vomited and I have never seen him in such pain before,” Murimi’s mother told the media in an earlier interview.

The artist’s close family members disputed the claims that he was bewitched by the second wife which led to a fallout between his mother and other family members. She was later forced to slaughter a goat for her to be accepted back.

A source who has sought anonymity told Opera that Murimi’s situation was worsened by his failure take medication claiming that someone had bewitched him.

At his last day, Murimi sent for pastor Kuria to pray for him and later requested second wife Nancy Karamu and daughter Grace Wambui Kanuthu to be present.

Wakahalf mother Grace Kanuthu.

“On his last day, he requested we share milk with him and his daughter Grace and pastor Kuria prayed for us, “Nancy told Opera news.

She added that the sharing of milk was meant to seal an agreement that she (Nancy) had forgiven him for all misdeeds he had directed towards her.

A source who sought anonymity hinted that Murimi’s third wife Zaweriah couldn’t stay with the family even for a week before she got engaged to Kikuyu media personality identified as Kiruma Aka Togno Togno.

Murimi’s family allegedly accused her of conning them about Ksh 140,000 and took away with clothes left behind by the deceased.

Her colourful wedding with Togno Togno didn’t last for long as they later divorced under unclear circumstances.

To date, they haven’t reconciled as pastor Zaweriah is rumoured to be dating a prominent businessman (name withheld) with whom they had a baby girl some years back.

Radio presenter Togno Togno. He also married Zaweriah.

Opera has also learnt that some promises made during Murimi’s burial by politicians haven’t been met to date.

Among the politicians who attended the ceremony included former Kirinyaga governor Joseph Ndathi, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Gachoki Gitari and Njogu Barua among celebrated media personalities.

Ndathi had told the crowd that he would take care of Murimi’s children, by educating his two children until university level, as it was his request which he wrote on his death bed.

A family source accused Ndathi of failing to honour his promise since he vacated office after losing to Anne Waiguru in the 2017 general election. 

“Governor Ndathi hasn’t honoured his promise to Murimi’s family as he promised since 2017 after he lost his governor post,” the source stated.

Pastor Zaweriah in her Range Rover.

His second wife also told Opera News that she hasn’t benefited from YouTube as she is always taken into circles.

“I haven’t received anything from YouTube and I think someone has been benefiting from Murimi’s songs, “she lamented.