Call for scrap metal ban grows after mortuary vandalized in Baringo

The facility, which was set to serve the communities of Tiaty and Baringo South, was vandalized before commissioning. Unknown individuals broke in and stole body trays and key electrical cables, rendering the mortuary non-operational.

Bereaved families have since been forced to transport their loved ones over long distances to Kabarnet, Ravine, or Nakuru, incurring additional costs and logistical challenges during already difficult times.

“The mortuary was meant to bring dignity and convenience to grieving families,” said a public health officer at Marigat Subcounty Hospital. “But it has now become a symbol of how vulnerable public projects are to criminal exploitation.”

“This was supposed to ease our burden, not add to our suffering,” said one elder. “We urge the government to act decisively before more public services are lost.”

Farmers report a surge in theft of gate valves and water intake systems—critical components for regulating irrigation water. With these parts missing, water flows uncontrollably through canals, bypassing farmlands that depend on precise distribution. The result: wilting crops, rising tensions, and fears of escalating conflict between farmers.

“The situation is becoming volatile,” said Daniel Waweru, Manager of the Perkerra Irrigation Board. “These valves are essential for fair water distribution. Without them, some farms flood while others dry up, breeding resentment within the farming community.”