Kilifi Governor Threatens to Move Unclaimed Shakahola Bodies to KNH Amid Stench from Containers
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has sparked debate by threatening drastic action concerning the preserved bodies from the Shakahola tragedy. He plans to move the containers holding the bodies to Kenyatta National Hospital if the national government doesn’t intervene within five days.
One year after the bodies were exhumed, the governor reported that over 400 bodies remain stored at Malindi Subcounty Hospital.
Speaking at an event in Dagamra, Magarini subcounty, Mung’aro expressed discontent with the extended storage of the bodies, citing the financial burden and the inconvenience caused to visitors.
“The containers storing the Shakahola bodies produce an unpleasant smell, affecting the hospital environment despite attempts to enhance the facilities,” said Mung’aro, emphasizing the strain on county resources.
Mung’aro stated that the county has incurred a massive Ksh36 million electricity bill to keep the containers running, diverting funds from local projects.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of national government support, despite his repeated requests for assistance.
Mung’aro’s attempts to reach high-level government officials, including Gender CS Aisha Jumwa and Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, to communicate the urgency of the situation to President William Ruto and others have not led to concrete solutions.
The governor announced plans to expand Malindi Hospital, allocating the current container space for an emergency and outpatient wing. A Ksh150 million tender has been issued for the project.
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However, the containers’ presence has stalled progress on the critical project.
The Shakahola tragedy, where 429 bodies were exhumed from the Shakahola Forest, has left the area in a state of mourning, with only six bodies released to their families so far.
Previous government efforts, including promises to assist with electricity bill payments, have not been fully realized, leaving the county to deal with the tragedy’s aftermath.
In March, Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor addressed concerns about the fate of unclaimed bodies. He mentioned the possibility of burying the bodies in a mass grave, with DNA profiles stored for future family claims.
He emphasized that current efforts focus on identifying all bodies and resolving challenges, dismissing claims of reagent shortages.
In cases of unclaimed bodies, Dr. Oduor confirmed they would be buried in marked graves with their DNA profiles saved for potential future identification, ensuring a traceable process.
Human rights activists in March highlighted concerns about the slow process of identifying bodies, leaving many unclaimed.
Kilifi Governor Threatens to Move Unclaimed Shakahola Bodies to KNH Amid Stench from Containers