Sifuna accuses City Mortuary of colluding with abductors to hide bodies of murdered Kenyans

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused the Nairobi Funeral Home, formerly City Mortuary, and by extension the Nairobi County Government, of being complicit in hiding the bodies of Kenyans allegedly abducted and killed by police.

This follows the discoveries of the bodies of Justus Mutumwa and Martin Mwau, two of three men who were abducted by suspected government operatives in Mlolongo on December, 16, 2024, at the morgue on January 30.

Despite the families' previous visits to the facility without finding the bodies, the morgue informed them that the two bodies had been at the facility since December 18, just two days after the duo went missing.

This contradicts previous visits by the families, during which they were unable to locate the bodies, raising serious questions about the morgue’s involvement in the disappearances.

In a statement on X on Friday, Sifuna pointed out the contradictions in the statements issued by the morgue, stating that the situation pointed to a disturbing collusion between mortuary staff and the alleged abductors.

“Nairobi City Mortuary, its management and the County Government are complicit in the abduction and killing of Kenyans. How is it the bodies of the men from Mlolongo have been there since December 18 and when families visited the facility, they couldn’t find them?” the Nairobi Senator posed.  

“It is clear the management is in cahoots with the abductors and must be held to account.”

Mwau and Mutumwa, along with Karani Muema, went missing in late December.

For over a month, their families desperately searched for answers about their kin, facing repeated denials from police about their locations. Muema’s whereabouts are still unknown.

There have been rampant cases of abductions targeting government critics since the anti-government demonstrations in June. Both young and old have been abducted, with many found dead and others still unaccounted for, despite the police repeatedly denying involvement.

On Friday, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi once again criticized the government over cases of abductions and extrajudicial killings, taking direct aim at his boss, President William Ruto.

Addressing the media on Friday at City Mortuary, Muturi expressed outrage at the continued disappearance and murder of Kenyan youths.

“This is murder most foul. It is only fair that, at this point, the country shelves any other business to discuss this matter of abductions and extrajudicial killings,” he said, calling for an immediate halt to such incidents and a full investigation into the growing crisis.

“It is not right that parents like these can go for over 40 days searching for their loved ones while we sit somewhere claiming to be discussing the economy. Economy for who? If we are killing and abducting young people, then who are we building the economy for?”

Muturi decried what he described as the normalization of extrajudicial killings, saying the government has a duty to protect its citizens rather than preside over their deaths.

He also emphasized that during the campaign period, President Ruto vowed to end forced disappearances, yet they continue unabated.