Double tragedy for grieving family as child’s body vanishes from Nakuru morgue
A deaf couple is in agony after the body of their seven-month-old baby mysteriously disappeared at the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary where it was being preserved.
Mr Daniel Kipchirchir and Ms Sharon Saidi, through their interpreters, said that the mortuary attendants and the management have failed to give them concrete answers as to how the body of their child disappeared at the morgue.
“We’re deeply heartbroken because we’re not getting answers on how our child’s body disappeared in the morgue,” said the couple.
The couple went to the hospital with a coffin and clothes on Thursday, February 6 to pick up Mercy Chepngeno’s body for burial in Bomet County but they were told to wait for two hours as the attendants searched for the body.
After two hours, the attendant informed them that they had found the body but was too stiff to be dressed and that they should wait.
However, they were later told that the body was missing.
The family and church members returned to the hospital on Friday February 7 but they were shocked that it had not been found.
“We were all set for the burial of our child on February 6. We wonder how it is missing from the facility. We were kept waiting as other families collected the bodies of their loved ones,” said the couple through their sign language interpreter Esther Andanje.
According to the couple, their child was admitted to the hospital on Sunday night where she was diagnosed with severe pneumonia before succumbing a day later.
The couple said they had paid all relevant fees paving the way for burial arrangements.
A relative, Ms Winnie Odanga, revealed that one of the staff at the mortuary told them that there was a mix-up on the bodies.
The staff further told them that the body was missing and that they even had a suspect in mind.
Mr Kipchirchir who is yet to come to terms with the death of his daughter, wondered how the body went missing in the facility that is guarded round the clock.
MCA Wilson Mwangi, a member of the health committee at the County Assembly of Nakuru, described the incident as shocking.
“As an Assembly, we’re concerned because this incident is coming at a time when human trafficking and illegal organ harvesting are on the rise,” said Mr Mwangi.
Mr Mwangi accused the hospital of laxity and failing to take any proactive steps to trace the missing body.
“The hospital has not contacted families that collected bodies of young babies during the period to verify if they may have taken the wrong body. We have all documents indicating that the baby was admitted and died in this hospital. A burial permit was processed yet they can’t produce the body,” said Mr Mwangi.
Ms Roselyn Mungai, County Executive Committee Member for Health Services, said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the police are investigating the matter.
She assured the family and the public those responsible would be held accountable.
“The department is addressing the family’s concerns. Our thoughts are with the affected family during this difficult time,” said Ms Mungai in a statement.
Meanwhile, Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja in a statement said she was outraged and deeply disturbed by the shocking disappearance of the body of a seven-month-old baby.
“This is a gross act of negligence and an unforgivable failure by the hospital management,” said Ms Karanja
She added: “The family of Sharon Saidi and Daniel Kipchirchir have endured the pain of losing their child. It is inhumane and unacceptable that they now have to suffer further due to the hospital’s incompetence. How does a body disappear from a government facility? Who is responsible for this heartless act?”
She condemned the management of Nakuru Level 5 Hospital for this disgraceful incident.
“Such recklessness and lack of accountability cannot be tolerated. The people of Nakuru deserve better. This hospital is meant to be a place of care, but it has now become a source of agony for grieving families,” she added.
She called on the DCI to speed up investigations and arrest the suspects.
“Those responsible must be held accountable, and disciplinary action must be taken against them. The Nakuru County Government, which runs this facility, must explain to the public how such an incident happened under their watch and put in place measures to ensure this never happens again,” said the Senator.
She said that she would push for justice for the deaf couple until the truth is uncovered and those responsible face the full force of the law.
“This is not just about one family it is about restoring dignity and trust in our public health institutions.”
She said she will continue to push for reforms to ensure hospitals serve the people with the professionalism and dignity they deserve.
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