Chaos at City Mortuary as Youths Storm Morgue Demanding Body of Nairobi Flood Victim

Chaos at City Mortuary as Youths Storm Morgue Demanding Body of Nairobi Flood Victim

Tension and confusion erupted at Nairobi Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 12, after a group of youths forcefully entered the facility demanding the release of the body of a friend who reportedly died during the devastating floods that recently hit Nairobi.

Witnesses said the group arrived at the mortuary visibly agitated, accusing officials of delaying the release of the deceased’s remains despite assurances that funeral expenses would be settled.

According to reports from individuals present at the scene, the confrontation escalated when the youths pushed past staff and entered the mortuary area, where they seized a coffin they believed contained the body of their late friend.

Carrying the casket, the group rushed outside the facility while loudly shouting the deceased’s name, drawing attention from onlookers and mortuary workers who watched as events spiralled into chaos.

However, the dramatic moment quickly turned into confusion when the group discovered that the coffin they had taken was empty.

Witnesses said the youths immediately turned back toward the mortuary building, demanding that the staff release what they believed to be the correct body.

The confrontation sparked heated exchanges between the group and mortuary personnel as authorities struggled to calm the situation.

A lawyer representing the youths later explained that the dramatic incident was fueled by frustration among friends and relatives of the deceased, who believed bureaucratic delays were preventing them from collecting the body for burial.

The lawyer said the family had expected the process to move faster after support was pledged by former Nairobi County governor Mike Sonko, who had earlier promised to assist families of flood victims with funeral arrangements.

“We have clear instructions from Mike Mbuvi Sonko. He has given us a budget to clear all the bills that occur at any given time here at City Mortuary,” the lawyer told reporters outside the facility.

The unrest came just a day after Sonko publicly announced that his team, the Sonko Rescue Team, had stepped in to support bereaved families by clearing mortuary bills and facilitating the transportation of victims’ bodies to their rural homes.

“As I said earlier today, we will never play politics with the lives of Kenyans. We have cleared all the outstanding bills at the Nairobi Funeral Home and other morgues, and we have begun transporting the bodies to their final resting places. So far, five out of the 26 bodies have already left Nairobi,” Sonko said in an earlier statement.

The former governor also indicated that his team had provided coffins, body bags and financial support to affected families to help them conduct dignified burials.

According to Sonko, each bereaved household had received KSh50,000 to assist with funeral arrangements.

Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that bodies of additional flood victims continued to arrive at the mortuary as rescue operations progressed across affected areas.

Two more bodies were reportedly retrieved from Rwai on Wednesday, adding to the growing number of fatalities linked to the recent floods.

The disaster, triggered by heavy rains that began on March 6, has claimed dozens of lives across the country.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least 50 people have died nationwide, with Nairobi accounting for a significant portion of the casualties as search teams continue combing flooded neighbourhoods for missing residents.

The incident at the mortuary unfolded amid broader recovery efforts being undertaken by the county government to assist residents affected by the disaster.

Earlier this week, Johnson Sakaja announced a temporary waiver of repair levies and approval fees for residents whose homes and businesses were damaged by the floods.

The directive allows property owners to carry out urgent repair and maintenance work without paying county charges for a 30-day period, enabling families to begin rebuilding immediately after the destruction caused by the heavy rains.

As investigations into the mortuary disturbance continue, officials have urged the public to remain calm while authorities coordinate the identification and release of victims’ bodies to their families.

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Chaos at City Mortuary as Youths Storm Morgue Demanding Body of Nairobi Flood Victim