Northern Kenya

Clergy lament delayed rehabilitation of Isiolo Referral Hospital morgue

A section of clergy address journalists in Isiolo town on July 2, 2024. They demanded answers over delayed revamping of Isiolo Referral Hospital morgue. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)

By Waweru Wairimu | Wednesday, July 3, 2024

The rehabilitation includes its equipping with state-of-the-art equipment as well as civil and structural works and installation of 16 refrigerators with four units.

A section of clergy has hit out at the Isiolo County government over delays in the rehabilitation of the Isiolo Referral Hospital morgue, a situation that forces residents to seek services in other counties with those unable to pay fees, hurriedly burying their loved ones.

Led by the National Council of Churches Kenya (NCCK) Isiolo branch Chairperson Nathan Maingi and Isiolo Bishops and Pastors Forum counterpart Geoffrey Murungi, the religious leaders asked the county government to give the company a deadline to complete the work so that people do not suffer losses.

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"Local communities have suffered for hurriedly taking bodies of their beloved ones to other counties once they die. We call upon the county government to come clean on completion and fully operationalise the morgue," Murungi said.

Achelis K Limited was in April this year assigned the rehabilitation work at Sh10.5 million and committed to complete the works within two months.

The facility had, prior to the award of the tender, been under scrutiny following complaints from the public that they were being asked to pick bodies of their loved ones a day after dropping them there, incurring extra expense of redirecting the bodies elsewhere.

The morgue which is the only one in the entire county also served parts of neighbouring Samburu and Marsabit counties, overstretching its capacity and consequently resulting in frequent breakdowns.

The hospital management had in early March announced that the morgue was working limitedly and would only receive bodies from the Referral Hospital as a stopgap measure until the issue was rectified.

Contacted, Isiolo County Medical Services Chief Officer Abdirahman Ibrahim said the delays were due to hitches with the shipment of some of the items and assured that the process was on course.

"The revamping will be expedited once the items arrive in the country. We are trying our best to have the process fast-tracked," he told Eastleigh Voice.

In the meantime, he claimed, arrangements had been made with neighbouring Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital to have bodies from the Isiolo preserved at the hospital's mortuary at a subsidised cost until interment arrangements are made by the bereaved families.

The rehabilitation includes its equipping with state-of-the-art equipment as well as civil and structural works and installation of 16 refrigerators with four units.

At the same time, the religious leaders also condoled with families that lost their loved ones during the ongoing nationwide anti-tax protests.

They further demanded that the government undertake thorough and adequate public participation on pertinent issues in the future to avert similar protests.

"The government should take bold initiatives of fresh engagements to salvage State obligations. We also call upon the youth to always engage peacefully because we cannot dare lose another life," the group said in a joint release.

Maingi called for the investigation of police officers over misconduct and use of excessive force during the protests as well release of suspects in unlawful custody.