Morticians Association in Kenya has condemned Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome’s remarks on hiring of dead bodies from some morgues.
Their response came a day after the IG accused the opposition of hiring dead bodies by colluding with morgue attendants to taint the ‘good image of the National Police Service’ during the demos.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 9, the Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya (MAPAKe) refuted the claims by the police boss saying, all attendants are registered and governed by ethics.
“We condemn the statement made by the Inspector General of Police Mr. Japheth Koome because we believe that no mortuary technician in the Kenya of today can even attempt to do such a thing,” said the association.
“The office of the Inspector General is such a respected office to even attempt to lower it to such unimaginable actions. We work very closely with the police service in our day-to-day operations and believe that this position we are taking is very well known to the Inspector General.”
They demanded Koome to substantiate his sentiments by ensuring anyone culpable faces the law, failure to which he should withdraw his remarks which they say taints their image and profession.
“We demand the Inspector General to furnish both Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board; the two registering, regulating and licensing bodies of mortuary technicians and the mortuary facilities respectively the particulars of those implicated for investigation and if found culpable, necessary disciplinary actions taken against them,” read part of the statement.
“Failure to do so, the Inspector General should withdraw his remarks against the facilities as he put it and also the Mortuary practitioners as he also put it in his statement.”
“Mortuary practitioners, serve all Kenyans without caring about their tribe, race, class, political alignment or religion. It is therefore very unfair for the Inspector General to try and tag our profession along or into matters we are less concerned with.”
MAPAKe said they are regulated by the law under the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA), adding that their ethical guidelines emphasise the respect of the dead.
“Mortuary technicians are no longer the rogue, careless, dirty, drunk and reckless uneducated individuals. Mortuary technicians are registered, licensed and regulated by a Government Authority established by an Act of Parliament; Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA),” they stated.
“Mortuary technicians are governed by ethics, chiefly among them being, respect and confidentiality of the deceased and respect for the loss, feelings and the right of the bereaved to mourn their loved ones in peace. Mortuary technicians operate within and observe the laws of Kenya in all our practice.”
While addressing journalists at the Kiganjo Police College, Koome said his officers did not take part in fuelling the violence witnessed during the protests after reports of police brutality emerged.
He also argued that the allegations are based on propaganda, aimed at tarnishing the institution’s name.
