The mortal remains of former Harambee Starlets head coach Justin Okiring will finally be laid to rest after a Kitale court resolved a protracted burial dispute between his two widows. The ruling brings to a close weeks of acrimony that had left the football fraternity in limbo.

Kitale Magistrate Magwi Wilkister Ghati ruled that while both women were legally recognized as widows, the right to bury the deceased lay with his first wife, Muyoka. The decision underscores the weight Kenyan customary law places on the first house in matrimonial disputes involving final rites.

A House Divided

Okiring, who died in December 2025 after succumbing to injuries from a bandit attack in West Pokot, had become the center of a tug-of-war that delayed his interment.

• The Ruling: The court dismissed the second wife’s application to stop the burial, citing lack of sufficient grounds to override the first family’s rights.
• The Legacy: Okiring is celebrated for nurturing talent, including the popular footballer-comedian "Dem wa Facebook," whom he helped secure a scholarship.

The Cost of Delay

As the family prepares for the burial in Trans Nzoia, the case highlights the emotional and financial toll of burial disputes in Kenya. With mortuary fees accumulating daily, the resolution allows the football community to finally pay their last respects to a man who dedicated his life to the beautiful game, even as he fell victim to the insecurity plaguing the North Rift.