Written by Kelly Were
Naivasha Level IV Hospital has disposed of 27 decomposing bodies in a mass grave at Longonot public cemetery, a move that has sparked controversy and allegations.
The bodies were buried in a quiet ceremony early Tuesday morning, supervised by public health officers.
This disposal follows claims by some politicians, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who suggested that the bodies included victims from the recent Gen-Z protests.
Hospital superintendent Dr. Bernard Warui defended the burial, explaining that it was part of a routine procedure conducted quarterly at the hospital.
He clarified that the hospital followed legal procedures with support from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the public health department.
Dr. Warui also dismissed allegations that some of the bodies belonged to the missing Gen-Z protesters.
He emphasized that many of the bodies were from road accidents and other causes, with some lying in the hospital for over a year.
Former DP Gachagua had raised concerns over the timing of the disposal, questioning why the bodies were buried without allowing the parents of missing youths to view them.
Gachagua had earlier alleged that the police might have dumped victims of the protests at the hospital.
However, Dr. Warui reassured that the disposal process was carried out according to the law, with a 21-day notice given for families to claim the bodies.
After this period, unclaimed bodies are legally required to be buried in a mass grave.
The controversy surrounding the burial highlights the tensions and suspicions surrounding the recent protests and the hospital’s handling of the situation.
