Thieves broke into the War Memorial Hospital morgue and stole a body that had been preserved over a pending medical bill of Ksh 921,000.

Nakuru War Memorial Chief Executive Officer Patricia Musale confirmed the robbery incident on Friday, February 23, after the body was found missing from the cold room.

The body of 73-year-old Madalene Mwikali had been stored at the mortuary since September 28, 2023. 

Her family initially tried to collect the body but were prevented by police officers who had placed the hospital under a lock and key.

Faced with this obstacle, they were forced to wait for the hospital to resolve its disputes with the county government ownership changed hands.

Little did they know that they would be slapped with an accumulative bill for the entire duration the body was stored and the hospital was shut down.

Mwikali's family had been enduring endless agony as they couldn't bury their kin.

This was after she lost her life at the same hospital, following an illness that saw her admitted there.

Since then, the family had involved the court to collect the body, but the hospital further prevented them, citing an unpaid bill.

The court issued a ruling allowing them to collect the body, but county askaris were stationed at the building, and not even a court order could grant them access.

As of now, the hospital remains closed, despite a Nakuru Environment and Land court order instructing the county government to allow operations to resume pending a ruling.

Following the disregard of the court order, the case was forwarded to a Nairobi court under the same jurisdiction.