Governor Mung'aro issues five-day ultimatum for Shakahola victims bodies to be moved

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro. (Photo: Governor's Press Unit)

By Abdirahman Khalif
May 04, 2024 | 08:30 PM

The governor noted that preserving the bodies was a burden to the already overwhelmed county of Kilifi and a nuisance to the visitors of the hospital.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro says he will be forced to move the bodies of Shakahola massacre victims to Kenyatta National Hospital if the government fails to act.

Mung'aro, while speaking at Dagamara in Magarini Sub-county on Saturday, gave the National Government a five-day ultimatum to remove the containers as the sub-county hospital containing 400 bodies was already full to capacity.

The governor noted that preserving the bodies was a burden to the already overwhelmed county of Kilifi and a nuisance to the visitors of the hospital.

He said if Cabinet Secretary of Interior Kithure Kindiki does not initiate the removal of the containers by Monday, he will move the bodies to Kenyatta National Hospital.

"I have a message to the government, especially CS Kindiki, to initiate the removal of these bodies. At the Malindi Hospital, I have two containers holding 429 Shakahola bodies but they just took away a few bodies only," said Mung'aro.

"Those who have been visiting Malindi Sub-County Hospital must have realised there is a foul smell coming from the mobile mortuary. I have constructed nice wards in the hospital, but there is a foul smell from the containers preserving the Shakahola bodies," he added.

Out of the over 400 bodies recovered from the hunger strike led by the now-jailed Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church, only 35 have been fully identified.

According to Mung'aro, Kilifi has so far paid Sh36 million in power bills to preserve the bodies.

In March, when Kindiki visited Kilifi, he said the National Government would assist the county in paying the power bills.