City Mortuary received 247 bodies during anti-govt protests, 60 still unidentified

At least sixty unidentified bodies lie at the Nairobi Funeral Home, formerly known as City Mortuary, from 247 that were admitted at the mortuary between June 25 and July 26, 2024.

The bodies were received at the height of the nationwide anti-government protests, which claimed lives and saw many protesters incur crucial injuries. Others were arbitrarily arrested and several missing-person cases were reported. 

June 25th was the climax of the protests, which saw Parliament invaded and protestors shot dead in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) and other counties.

No specific number of bodies collected or linked to the protests was given. However, it is reported that bodies linked to the protests were identified, autopsies conducted, and released to relatives for burial.

Nairobi Funeral Home also waived the morgue bills, offering the bereaved families much-sought relief.  

According to the admissions, 102 bodies out of the 247 that were brought, had been identified with their full names and relatives or next of kin aware.

Another 55 bodies, initially unidentified, were later identified, and their relatives were informed.

The morgue also received 13 unidentified foetuses or bodies from perinatal deaths.

Protesters march with a Kenyan flag along Moi Avenue, Nairobi, during the anti-government demos on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki/EV)

Also, 17 body parts from the Kware incident from Nairobi's pipeline estate await DNA identification to establish their identity.

Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor disclosed last month that none of the bodies recovered from the Kware dump site showed any signs of injuries attributed to bullets, either externally or upon examination.

The revelations by City Hall contradict reports claiming that all bodies were released. Some reports further claimed that bodies at the City Mortuary had bullet wounds.

Hussein Khalid, an activist and CE of human rights organisation Vocal Africa, had earlier this week raised concerns over the bodies, questioning the identification process undertaken by the morgue.

 "We have 51 bodies here that have been booked as unknown. They were brought here with bullets. We have checked the records, and many cases of missing persons started occurring on June 25," said the activist.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported on July 16, 2024, that 50 people had died in connection with the anti-government protests.

The deceased were from Nairobi (21), Nakuru (3), Laikipia (2), Narok (1), Kajiado (3), Uasin Gishu (4), Kakamega (2), Kisumu (3), Kisii (1), Mombasa (3), Siaya (1), Kiambu (1), Nandi (1), Embu (1), Homabay (1), Nyeri (1), and Bungoma (1).

Meanwhile, fourteen families who lost loved ones during the Gen Z protests in June and July recorded statements at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) last week, along with some witnesses.

Lobby groups report that 60 people were killed, 66 were abducted or are missing, 1,376 were arrested, and 601 were injured.

However, the IPOA announced they are currently investigating 41 deaths.

A volunteer retrieves the body of an unknown person from a dump site in the Kware estate of Embakasi, Nairobi, July 12, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi)