A family from Amariba village in Gucha South is shocked after realising that they had buried a wrong body.
On Saturday, police from Kisii town took charge in exhuming the body of John Maragia who died at the New Year’s Eve following a road accident which happened along Kisumu-Kisii road.
His body was later taken to Kisii Teaching and Referral mortuary.
Another family from Nyamira County, however, claimed the body of their loved one, bearing the same names was missing from Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.
It was after this that the hospital’s management realised a likely confusion since there were two names which coincided.
“This isn’t a big problem. There was a little confusion from our mortuary attendants, but we’ve ironed out the issue though we regret the confusion,” said Dr Tom Otom from the hospital.
Otom said the hospital will take charge of funeral arrangements that were incurred by the Gucha-based family since it was their fault.
“Do not be afraid since we will take care of everything including transportation and funeral expenses. This was our mistake and we are dearly sorry for it,” said Otom.
Some of the close relatives from Gucha South family are said to have raised suspicions on the body they had ferried from the mortuary on Thursday.
“I was not convinced that whatever body we buried belonged to our Maragia. Maragia was not that huge, I am glad this has been discovered early,” said Ken Nyabando, a relative.
The body was taken to Kisii hospital while the deceased Maragia from Gucha will be “reburied” on Tuesday after a special ritual by the elders.