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Introductory Letter Issued

A resident of Rumuruti in Laikipia County was finally issued with an introductory letter following the intervention of the Commission.

According to the complainant, she was the wife of a police officer who unfortunately passed away on 14th March, 2023. Following the death of the husband, she tried getting an introductory letter from the Chief of Rumuruti, Laikipia West, to institute succession proceedings but she was sent away by the Chief on the allegation that she was not a wife to the deceased. On 25th May, 2023, she went to the Chief of Kibugu Location who issued her with an acknowledgment letter to show that she was the deceased's wife but the Chief of Rumuruti still refused to give her an introductory letter. Her predicament impelled her to seek the intervention of the Commission.

The Commission, by way of inquiry, took up the matter with the County Commissioner, Laikipia County, and the Principal Secretary, State Department for Interior and Coordination of National Administration. The Principal Secretary in a letter to the County Commissioner and copied to the Commission, requested the Commissioner to investigate the matter, take the necessary action, and share a report with the Commission and the State Department within two weeks from the date of the letter.

Following the investigations and follow-up by the Commission, the complainant and the co-wife were issued with a joint introduction letter.

Following the investigations, it emerged that the complainant was cohabiting with the deceased and had two children. In light of this, the Chief requested the complainant to provide the children’s birth certificates to ascertain their relationship with the deceased. The matter has since been resolved amicably by the Deputy County Commissioner, Laikipia West, who engaged the wife of the deceased and the complainant, and a joint introductory letter was issued. “We, therefore, request that you consider the matter resolved and ask you to proceed to close it accordingly,” read a letter from the Principal Secretary, Interior and Coordination of National Administration to the Commission.

The complainant, in a phone call to the Commission, confirmed receipt of the letter.