This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
On August 28, 2019, a grave error by Dreamland Funeral Home in Bungoma County, Kenya, led to a shocking mix-up that left two families in double grief.
A family had gone to the mortuary to pick up the body of Mary Nasimiyu for burial, but upon arrival, they found out that her body was missing.
"We tried to collect our relative's body, but there was none," said Joseph Walubengo, a relative of Nasimiyu.
It was then that they discovered their relative had already been buried by another family in Sirisia constituency after her body was mistakenly swapped with that of Grace Nakhumicha.
"We had taken our mother to the mortuary. The body that was buried was not ours," said Nakhumicha's son.
The two families are now demanding that Dreamland Funeral Home foots the funeral expenses for both burials.
Nasimiyu's family has moved to court to obtain an exhumation order and intends to organize another burial, complete with rituals, in accordance with Bukusu traditions.
