Residents of Baringo South have been left stranded after criminals broke into the area’s only mortuary and vandalized it, stealing essential equipment including body trays and power cables.
The mortuary, located near Marigat Sub-County Hospital, was the only facility serving both Baringo South and the neighboring Tiaty constituency. It was on the verge of being commissioned before the break-in occurred, halting all plans to operationalize it.
The once-promising facility now sits deserted and overgrown with bushes, forcing bereaved families to transport their deceased loved ones to distant towns such as Kabarnet, Ravine, or Nakuru, an added emotional and financial burden for already grieving households.
According to a public health officer at the hospital, the rising demand for scrap metal in nearby towns has fueled a disturbing trend, with idle youth vandalizing public infrastructure, including mortuaries, for resale.
Community elders condemned the incident in strong terms, calling it not only a criminal act but a cultural taboo. “It is against our customs to tamper with the dead or the spaces meant for them. This act has brought shame to our community,” said one elder.
The incident adds to a growing list of infrastructure vandalism cases in Baringo, including recent theft at the historic Perkerra Irrigation Scheme, where vandals have been stripping vital agricultural equipment.
Local leaders and health officials are now calling for increased security around public facilities and a crackdown on the illegal scrap metal trade that continues to encourage such destruction.
Written By Rodney Mbua
