Agony of Kisii family that has mourned for 3 months as kin’s body detained over Ksh.1.7M hospital bill

A family in Bomariba village, Kisii County, has mourned their departed kin for more than three months with hopes of burial dwindling with each passing day.

Gilbert Omweri last spoke with his widow in September, after which he went quiet, only for his family to find out he had been injured in an accident in October and was hospitalised.

The family has been unable to raise the medical bills he accrued before dying in hospital, and despite conducting mourning ceremonies at home, is yet to access his body due to the unpaid bills that amount to more than Ksh.1.7million.

The management of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) has confirmed that the family of the deceased is indeed needy and has moved to resolve the billing standoff.

The hospital says such cases are taken through the scrutiny of a committee that establishes the needs and the financial capacities of the deceased's family. The matter, according to the hospital, now stands resolved.

29-year-old Omweri left the village to eke a living in the country's capital as a boda boda operator.

According to the family, Omweri was found in a pool of blood by well wishers after he was knocked by a speeding vehicle moments after dropping a customer.

Alexander Omweri, the deceased’s father, said: “Kijana yangu aliaga akipata matibabu, tumesubiri mwili wa mtoto wangu sana ila bill yenye imekuwa juu ya Ksh.1.7 million imetulemaza sana...ata chakula tu ni shida kwetu kupata.”

His widow Redisha Kwamboka stated: “Mimi the last time tuliongea na bwanangu ilikuwa mwezi wa tisa...ningependa kumuona na aletwe tumzike hapa.”

A tent erected by locals in the homestead three months ago still stands, the music playing attesting to the state of hopelesness in the village, as locals continue to stream in shifts at night to provide a leaning shoulder to Omweri's family.

Out of the accrued Ksh.1.7 million hospital bill, the locals have only raised a paltry Ksh.100,000.

The deceased’s cousin Charles Nyakoyo said: “Kama wanakijiji enyewe tumejaribu sana tumeshindwa mpaka sasa, ata vile uneona hii tent iko hapa tunakesha kila siku.”

Omweri’s mysterious death continues to take a toll, not just upon his family, but also the entire village.

However, despite the situation, locals remain hopeful that someday they will bury their kin in accordance with the Abagusii culture.