Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-17 14:20:44
The Nakuru War Memorial Hospital has become a battleground as ownership disputes rage on, causing distress not only for the living but also for the deceased at the hospital’s mortuary. The chaos, bloodshed, threats of violence, and hired goons have turned the once reliable hospital into a scene of anarchy. Amidst this turmoil, the body of 73-year-old Magdalene Mwikali has been lying at the hospital’s mortuary since September 26, 2023, as her family fights for the right to bury her.
After Mr. Richard Migwi claimed to be her husband, Mwikali’s siblings moved to court to prevent him from burying their mother. Nakuru Senior Resident Magistrate Emmanuel Soita denied Mr. Migwi’s request, stating that the siblings had the right to bury her. Despite this ruling, the family has been unable to collect their mother’s body for burial.
Every morning, family members gather outside the hospital gate in the hope of being allowed to collect their mother’s body, but they are met with a grim refusal. They are left to wipe away their tears, enduring the pain of not being able to give their mother a proper burial.
The family’s plight has been further exacerbated by the hospital’s demand for a fee of Sh200,000, threatening to switch off the power at the mortuary if the family does not comply. This distress has taken a toll on the family, causing them to fear that their mother’s body may start decomposing at the hospital. The inhuman treatment by the hospital and the county government has left the family feeling neglected and helpless.
The County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Samwel Mwaura, denied the family’s claims, stating that the county is not managing Nakuru War Memorial Hospital and expressing readiness to intervene and assist the family.
The situation at the hospital has sparked public outcry, with ordinary residents, lawyers, business communities, and other professionals in Nakuru City and beyond criticizing the county government’s takeover of the private hospital. Two judges have recused themselves from the case due to the disobedience of court orders, and Chief Justice Martha Koome has voiced concern over the disregard for court directives, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law.
Amidst the chaos, the plight of the deceased at the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital has brought attention to the urgent need for a resolution and the restoration of dignity at the hospital. The family’s struggle to lay their loved one to rest underscores the humanitarian crisis unfolding amidst the ownership disputes and power struggles. The anguish of the family serves as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching impact of the hospital’s turmoil on the lives of ordinary citizens.
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