This archive report was first published on 27 August 2021.
On Thursday, Kilifi County Government officially opened a modern public mortuary at the Kilifi County Referral Level-4 Hospital, marking a significant milestone in providing decent send-off services to the departed.
According to Governor Amason Kingi, the mortuary had been in an improper state, necessitating modernization. He recalled his visit to the facility, where he was met with an unbearable foul smell and bodies lying on the floor.
"When I visited the mortuary sometime back, I had purposed to enter the facility in order to see its state but it was difficult. The situation was unbearable because first even before getting inside, there was an unwelcoming foul smell. When the Mortician on duty opened the door, I saw bodies lying on the floor and that is when the journey of upgrading the facility commenced," Kingi said.
The modern funeral home boasts of a 60-body capacity cold room, postmortem room, embalming chamber capable of stocking at most 6 bodies concurrently, and a family viewing room. The facility is designed to offer essential services not only to the Kilifi County community but also to Lamu, Mombasa, Tana River, and any other in the Coast region.
Kingi emphasized that the county government intends to make a policy with the hospital on the number of days bodies should be kept in the facility, to avoid overcrowding and ensure that bodies are buried in a timely manner.
Speaking during the launch, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo expressed pride in the new funeral home, stating that it will be an elaborate home of the departed loved ones before burial. He added that the facility will offer a befitting send-off, thanks to the qualified pathologists and experts in the funeral home.
Kilifi County Health Executive Karisa Dadu thanked the residents for their patience during the period in which the old mortuary was closed for renovations. He acknowledged that the closure had caused inconvenience, but assured that the modernization was for the best interest of all.
With the launch of the modern funeral home, Kilifi County has taken a significant step towards providing decent send-off services to the departed, and reducing the burden on families who lose loved ones.
Published on August 27, 2021.
