By Lauryne Akoth
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has threatened to relocate the containers preserving 429 bodies from the Shakahola Massacre at Malindi Sub County Hospital and dump them at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Mung’aro gave the government a five-day ultimatum to remove the bodies, warning that if they failed to do so, he would personally tow the containers from Malindi Sub-County Hospital to Kenyatta National Hospital.
Speaking in Dagamra, Magarini sub-county after a food distribution exercise to flood victims, Mung’aro said the preservation of the bodies has been a burden to the county and a nuisance to those visiting the Malindi sub-county hospital.
“For those who have been visiting Malindi sub-county hospital, you must have realized there is a foul smell coming from the mobile mortuary. I have constructed nice wards in the hospital but the foul smell comes from the containers preserving the shakahola bodies,” he said.
“By Monday if the government will not have removed the bodies doctors in the hospital should tow the containers and dump them in Kenyatta,” he further added
According to the governor, the county has paid Ksh 36 million in power bills to preserve the bodies.
“I have paid power bills using money meant for Kilifi people. I have paid money to support the activities in Shakahola. This is a national government function. I do not have a budget for that. How do I account for such money when the auditor general questions the expenditure,” he asked.
Mung’aro said he has tried to contact Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki without success.
“I pay Ksh 2.9 million every month. I have tried to get help from the government but in vain. I talked to the regional commissioner and he called Nairobi and they promised to help but nothing has happened,” he said.
He tasked Gender CS Aisha Jumwa and the government spokesperson to deliver the message to Kindiki and President William Ruto, as they were present during the food distribution exercise to residents affected by floods.
He further said the location where the containers are stationed was earmarked for the expansion of the Malindi sub-county hospital.
“We want to construct an emergency and outpatient wing where the containers are. We have already floated the tender worth Ksh 150 million but we cannot go ahead with the construction because of the containers,” he added.
Malindi Hospital has two containers with 429 bodies exhumed from the Shakahola forest. Only Six bodies have been released to their families.
In his visit to Kilifi in March, Kindiki announced that the National government would assist the county government of Kilifi in offsetting power bills.