KENYA: Kenyans waiting at Nairobi's main mortuary for the release of the bodies of their loved ones are frustrated by delays, but foreign teams arrive to support the forensic operation at Westgate mall

Record ID: 353991

  • Title: KENYA: Kenyans waiting at Nairobi's main mortuary for the release of the bodies of their loved ones are frustrated by delays, but foreign teams arrive to support the forensic operation at Westgate mall
  • Date: 25th September 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (SEPTEMBER 25, 2013) (REUTERS) AMBULANCES DRIVING INTO MORTUARY VARIOUS OF KENYAN WOMAN CRYING AS SHE IS BEING LED AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYAN WOMAN, SAYING: "The police are saying it is the doctor who has refused. Then the doctor are telling us it is the police that are not giving the clearance. What is this?" [CRYING] CAMERAMEN FILMING WALL OF MOR
  • Embargoed: 10th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA68COZ62YW78FZ2FB003XEZ2SR
  • Story Text: Kenyan relatives expressed their frustration on Wednesday (September 25) over the delay in the release of the Nairobi shopping mall attack victims.
    For one Kenyan woman, the delay in the release of her husband's body was compounding the grief.

    "The police are saying it is the doctor who has refused. Then the doctor are telling us it is the police that are not giving the clearance. What is this?" she cried.
    Jacob Nyongesa, administrator of Nairobi's mortuary, said the delay was due to the high number of bodies brought in that have yet to be given a post-mortem examination.
    Adding to their workload is the recovery of bodies found under the rubble after Kenyan security forces took control of the mall after a four-day stand-off with al Shabaab militants.

    "We would have released them earlier but all the pathologists were summoned to go to Westgate so they can assist in the retrieval of the bodies under the rubbles," said Nyongesa.
    The Kenyan Red Cross has set up a counselling centre in the compound of the mortuary to help grieving relatives and family members who come to identify and collect their loved ones.
    Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku told a news conference on Wednesday that the only bodies still likely to be found under the rubble were those of slain assailants.
    He also said foreign teams had arrived to help with the forensics investigation.
    At least 72 people have been killed in the siege by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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