Joseph Isangura
A family in Nakuru is reeling from shock and devastation after the body of their seven-month-old baby vanished from the mortuary, turning their moment of mourning into an unimaginable nightmare.
The family, from Menengai East, had gone to Nakuru Level Five Hospital mortuary to collect the body of their firstborn daughter, Mercy Chelangat, for burial. Instead, they were met with confusion and heartbreak when hospital staff informed them that the baby’s body was missing.
“We had bought the coffin, we had her clothes ready—everything was set for the burial,” recounted Winnie Odanga, a grieving relative. “When we arrived at the mortuary, they asked for the baby’s clothes so they could dress her. But when the mother asked where her child was, they hesitated, then told us they couldn’t find her body. They said it had been mixed up with another.”
The baby’s father, Daniel Kipchirir, described their growing frustration as they pressed for answers. “At first, they said they were dressing the baby. Then they told us the body was too cold, so they needed to warm it before putting on the clothes. But after waiting for what felt like forever, they finally admitted the truth our child was gone.”
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Back in Bomet County, where family and friends had gathered for the burial, the news sent shockwaves. Preparations had been made, food had been cooked, and a small coffin awaited the tiny body that never arrived. Now, only grief remains. The baby’s photos, once meant to be part of a farewell ceremony, have become painful reminders of a loss within a loss.
The Nakuru County government has since confirmed that investigations are underway to determine what happened. Officials have assured the family that they are working tirelessly to uncover the truth and provide answers.
