Hospital Holds Body Hostage
Drama erupted at Mwea Mission Hospital in Kirinyaga on Wednesday when mourners rushed into the mortuary, demanding the release of the body of a 62-year-old man who had been held due to unpaid bills.
The deceased, Julius Mwangi from Kiratina village in Mwea, was supposed to be laid to rest at Kasarani Cemetery. However, the hospital management initially refused to hand over his body until a mortuary fee of Ksh 84,600 was paid.
Led by Pastor David Ngatia, the mourners expressed their outrage, accusing the hospital of being insensitive. They emphasized that all they wanted was to give Mwangi a respectful farewell. Tragically, Mwangi was one of four family members who lost their lives in a fire incident in Ngurubani just two weeks prior.
According to Martin Mutiga, the chairman of the burial committee, Mwangi had initially been admitted to the hospital after the August 16 fire. His medical bill amounted to Ksh 800,000, of which the Social Health Authority (SHA) cleared Ksh 300,000 while the committee raised Ksh 500,000.
“We are appealing to the hospital management to release the body so we can proceed with the burial, which is only three kilometres away. We have already mobilized contributions from well-wishers and mourners, but the hospital is still holding on to the body despite our efforts,” Pastor Ngatia said.
The standoff lasted for more than five hours, disrupting the burial program and leaving mourners at Kasarani Cemetery frustrated.
“It is now 2 p.m., and we are still waiting for the bodies. We cannot bury three and leave their father behind, especially since they are all meant to be laid to rest in one grave. We are financially constrained, and this delay is hurting us,” lamented Mary Wanjiku, a mourner at the cemetery grounds.
Relief finally came when Kenya Seed Company chairperson, Purity Wangui Ngirici, intervened and cleared the outstanding mortuary bill.
Hospital Holds Body Hostage
