Mortuary attendant charged in court for stealing from the dead

The Westgate saga still brews as Mgondi (not his real name) was arraigned in a Nairobi court for allegedly stealing from the dead. The man who works as a mortuary attendant in Nairobi is said to have taken advantage of the many bodies booked in at the morgue following the Westgate terrorist attack by the Alshabaab militants. Blood stained currency notes, jewellery and debits cards believed to be those of Westgate victims were found in his possession prompting his arrest by police who have also launched a man hunt for his accomplice who is believed to be on the loose and at large. Mgondi was remanded at the Industrial Area penitentiary after failing to provide a bond with a surety pending the next hearing scheduled in a month’s time.

Relatives of the victims have come out to sharply criticize the morgue administration for failing to honor and respect the departed. This sad news comes after another where KDF soldiers deployed to counter the terrorist attack are alleged to have looted stalls at the mall during the 4 day siege. Following that, business owners have submitted complains to the government and asked for compensation following the looting incident. CCTV cameras in the mall also recorded soldiers entering the Nakumatt Chain store and leaving with paper bags filled with unidentified items. The store’s Managing Director has come out to lament that besides losing three employees in the siege; property worth close to Kshs 3 billion was destroyed and looted. Other businesses have also reported the loss of Jewellery, electronics with entertainment spots reporting loss of alcohol which they claim KDF soldiers drank. However, with investigations still ongoing, DOD has since denied claims of looting but has warned that any soldier found to have looted property will be dealt with accordingly. Just recently, a parliamentary inquest committee ironically cleared the military of any wrong doing in the incident.