The assertion that politicians allied to the Opposition hired dead bodies from mortuaries during recent public demonstrations with an intention of portraying them as victims of police brutality are untrue.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome while addressing the media in Nyeri Wednesday intimated that the said politicians work in cahoots with morgue attendants to take pictures of the bodies.
The pictures, he added, are later published in social media platforms with an aim of tainting the image of the police service.
It was the first time he was responding to Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition police brutality claims since the chaotic public protests a fortnight ago.
“The information I have is they go to some of the mortuaries, compromise the workers there, people who even died of some illness, people who died maybe out of an accident or other causes, they take photographs of such bodies and blame on police,” observed IG Koome.
However, in a statement Thursday, morticians drawn from across the country said their work is governed by ethics that cannot permit them to venture into such a realm.
“Mortuary Technicians are governed by ethics, chiefly among them being, respect and confidentiality of the deceased and respect for the loss, feelings and the right of the bereaved to mourn their loved ones in peace,” they stated through their Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya umbrella body.
In the statement signed by the association’s Secretary Felix Odhiambo and two others, they are now calling on the Inspector General to make public the names of those involved in the scheme so that they can be held accountable.
“The purpose of the press release therefore is to DEMAND the Inspector General to furnish both Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board; the two registering, regulating and licensing bodies of Mortuary Technicians and the Mortuary facilities respectively the particulars implicated for investigation and if found culpable, necessary disciplinary actions taken against them,” the statement reads.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga, alongside others, has scoffed at IG Koome’s assertion terming it unfortunate.
