Produce The Dead Bodies You Claimed Were Hired- IG Koome Told

According to MAPAKe, the days of the mortuary technicians being rogue, careless, dirty, drunk and reckless uneducated individuals were long gone.

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Aug 9, 2023 - 18:56
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Produce The Dead Bodies You Claimed Were Hired- IG Koome Told
Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome appears for vetting at Administration and Internal Affairs Committee in Parliament on November 8, 2022. /THE STAR

The Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya (MAPAKe) on Wednesday, August 9 put Inspector General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome to task after he claimed that opposition politicians framed the police by hiring dead bodies from mortuaries to represent those killed during the anti-government demonstrations.

In a statement, the morticians' National Executive Committee (NEC) faulted the police boss over the claims, terming them “unfair” to their professionalism, affirming that mortuary technicians are these days governed by ethics, chiefly among them being, respect and confidentiality of the deceased and respect for the loss, feelings and the right of the bereaved to mourn their loved ones in peace.

According to MAPAKe, the days of the mortuary technicians being rogue, careless, dirty, drunk and reckless uneducated individuals were long gone.

"Mortuary Technicians operate within and observe the laws of Kenya in all our practice. We however don't have control of what happens with our clients once they are out of our custody. We condemn the statement made by the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome because we believe that no mortuary Technician in the Kenya of today can even attempt to do such a thing.

A police officer firing teargas to disperse protestors on July 12, 2023. /FACEBOOK

"The office of the Inspector General is such a respected office to even attempt to lower it to such unimaginable actions. We work very closely with the Police Service in our day-to-day operations and believe that this position we are taking is very well known to the Inspector General," read the statement in part.

Felix Odhiambo, the secretary of the mortician's body, further compelled IG Koome to furnish both Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board and the mortuary facilities, the particulars of those implicated for investigation and if found culpable, necessary disciplinary actions taken against them.

“Failure to do so, the Inspector General should withdraw his remarks against the facilities as he put it and also the Mortuary practitioners as he also put it in his statement," added the statement.

MAPAKe further asserted that mortuary practitioners serve all Kenyans without caring about their tribe, race, class, political alignment or religion and thus it was unfair for the Inspector General to try and tag the profession along or into matters the practitioners are less concerned with.

The umbrella body clarified that they are regulated by the law under the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA), adding that their ethical guidelines emphasise the respect of the dead.

Weighing in on their sentiments was Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o who was appalled and shocked by what he termed careless and insensitive utterances from the police boss.

To defend his case, the county governor revealed that it is on record that Kisumu County bore the brunt of police brutality which dominated discussions surrounding the protests, further asking the IG to stop mocking the families of those killed or maimed during the protests.

“We join the rest of Kenyans and our leader Raila Odinga in condemning Mr Koome who instead of apologising to the nation over the disappointing unprofessionalism in the police service, is dancing on the graves of the victims killed by his officers during demonstrations against the high cost of living,” said Prof Nyong’o.

“The Inspector General of Police must stop politicizing grave security issues like the murder of innocent people, which borders on genocide and ethnic cleansing."

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga rubbished the comments on Tuesday, August 8, distancing the opposition from the said allegations while revealing that lawyers who the opposition has enlisted are still documenting cases of brutality with the goal of using them in a headline case against the police.

"I do not know which world he lives in. The bodies were buried had bullet wounds in them. The death certificates also confirm the cause of death. These are people killed by goons masquerading as police officers," Raila responded.

Contrary to IG Koome's claims, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Medical Association, and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) expressed deep concern over the cases of police use of excess force in Kisumu and Kisii counties during the protests.

The three human rights groups further noted with concern that preliminary findings concluded that there was indeed the use of excessive force by the police meted against protestors during the July 19-21, 2023 protests.

The groups further revealed that according to preliminary investigations, at least 10 people were killed, most suffering bullet wounds and a few cases of blunt-force trauma.

Anti-riot police officers patrolling around Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka's Karen home on Friday, July 21, 2023. /PALOMA GATABAKI

At least 107 cases of police assault were attended to in various health facilities but with 47 of those being gunshot wounds. Initial reports indicated that police shot indiscriminately at unarmed protestors, including those who had surrendered or were running away from the police.

"In one incident, an unarmed protestor, who served as an eyewitness in an arson incident, was shot and killed by a police officer. The state should assure the safety of families and victims who are yet to report violations out of fear of intimidation or re-victimisation at police stations," the statement by the rights groups revealed.

The groups also uncovered that just like in the protests held between March and July, some victims were bystanders and were not involved.

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