Professor Lukoye Atwoli and his family are mourning the death of his beloved wife Maureen Nyadida Lukoye.
Francis Atwoli has publicly mourned the death of his daughter-in-law Maureen, wife of his eldest son Prof Lukoye, revealing that she passed away late at night and left behind a will with a specific final request.
Speaking at what appeared to be a public gathering in Embu, a visibly distressed Atwoli addressed a large crowd seated behind him in matching purple attire.
He disclosed that Maureen died at 11 p.m. the previous night, and that her will stipulated she be cremated, a revelation that has since caught the attention of many Kenyans online.
Atwoli opens up about cremation request
The COTU Secretary General spoke candidly about how the will’s contents caught the family off guard.
He noted that while he was prepared to honour Maureen’s final wishes, the process was deeply painful for him personally.
He described a moment during a previous cremation in Kisumu where he witnessed preparations being made and found himself unable to stay.
Atwoli also acknowledged a generational tension that will had surfaced, noting that relatives had questioned why Maureen had not prepared the family for this decision before her passing.
Despite his personal anguish, Atwoli made clear that he intended to respect Maureen’s documented wishes, affirming that the cremation would go ahead.
Who Was Maureen Nyadida Lukoye?
Maureen was the wife of Prof Lukoye a renowned psychiatrist and the firstborn son of Atwoli.
Lukoye recently celebrated his 50th birthday in a high-profile party held at PrideInn Azure Hotel in Nairobi, attended by family members including his mother, Jennifer Atwoli.
Maureen’s death and the conversation around her cremation have resonated with many Kenyans, touching on deeply held cultural attitudes towards burial practices and the legal weight of personal wills.
