Caroline Kangogo's coffin.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
Police constable Caroline Kangogo was on Thursday laid to rest in a low key burial.
There was no gunfire salute and no police officer attended in uniform as Kangogo was buried at her parents' Nyawa village home in Elgeyo Marakwet county.
Tradition in the police service would require a 21 gunfire salute, but because of circumstances of her death, Caroline was denied the honours.
Her body was draped in a wedding dress as per her wishes.
Caroline was eulogised as a humble and good officer by friends and relatives.
She was popularly known in the village as "Chemu" and schooled at the local Nyawa Primary School a few meters from the family home.
"Maybe she encountered other challenges in the police service but our records show she was a very good girl," headteacher Beatrice Tilitei said.
More than 20 police officers mostly from Nakuru were present to witness the burial.
Most relatives said they did not believe it was the same "Chemu'" they knew who was linked to the murders of two people including her colleague in Nakuru.
Her father Barabara Kangogo and mother Leah did not address mourners but opted to pass their tributes through a family spokesman.
Family spokesman Robert Kipkorir said they were saddened and deeply affected by events around her death.
"We don't know what happened as a family because we didn't believe it's the Caroline we knew. She was described as dangerous and a fugitive but it was painful to us. The police will tell us the truth," he said.
He said they pray that the same experience does not happen to anyone else.
"The real truth lies between her and heaven. Investigations we are told are going on well and what we want is the truth to be told. We are satisfied with what is going on in the investigations," Kippkorir said.