Socialite Sheriffa Wambui, aka Manzi wa Kibera, was conspicuously absent from her ex-boyfriend’s funeral on Wednesday, May 1.
A now-viral video circulating online showed a small number of people gathering at Langata Cemetery for the solemn occasion.
The late Mzee Samuel Nzuki was buried in a low-key ceremony as the family did not want media coverage.
Chali wa Kibera, identified as Manzi’s manager, emerged to explain her absence from the proceedings.
“I just want to inform you that Mzee Nzuki was buried at Langata and there was no media presence because the family didn’t want media, walikuwa tu wanataka kupatia mzee (they wanted to give him) a decent send-off without cameras,” he explained.
He added: “Myself and Manzi wa Kibera were not invited and I totally understand because maybe walidhani tukienda tunaeza enda na watu wa media.(They thought we would tag a log media for coverage)”.
He shared details of their next move.
“Maybe tutafind time yetu ya kwenda kuangalia kaburi which walisema ni sawa (We will find our own time to go and pay tribute to Mzee at his graveside which the family has agreed to),” he briefly informs.
Speaking to Nairobi News on the phone, an emotional Manzi wa Kibera said she was surprised that things were happening without her knowledge when she had been raising funds to give her friend a decent send-off.
She said she had earlier been informed that the burial would take place on Saturday, May 4.
“They did not tell me about the funeral. I thought they would bury him on Saturday as we had agreed. I was part of the planning committee, but it looks like they all played me,” she said.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Manzi wa Kibera vowed to honour her late lover in her own way.
“I will find a day and take flowers to the place where he is buried. I do not have much at the moment but I am surprised why they did not tell me when they buried Mzee,” she told Nairobi News.
The relationship between Nzioki and Manzi wa Kibera was often met with scepticism, with many speculating that it was a publicity stunt due to their significant age difference.
Despite the initial scepticism, the couple denied the rumours and confirmed their relationship, later announcing that they had married.
This turned out to be a stunt as Manzi Wa Kibera released a song.
However, in January, Nzioki publicly accused Manzi wa Kibera of using him and then leaving him. Their last public photo together was shared on December 30, 2023.
Chali wa Kibera also came out and said that Manzi wa Kibera and the Mzee were just chasing influence to get eyeballs on their content.
He added that there is a lot of pressure on content creators to maintain an audience, so gimmicks are the way to go.
