Why Meshack Yebei’s case puts State on spotlight over the disposal of unclaimed bodies

The Man eaters lodge at Manyani in Taita Taveta County, the body of Meshack Yebei, an alleged ICC witness was found near the area by police officers who took it to Voi Mortuary. [PHOTO/KELVIN KARANI/STANDARD]

VOI, KENYA: The discovery of the body of International Criminal Court (ICC) witness Meshack Yebei at the Voi County Referral Hospital Mortuary in Taita Taveta County has raised questions on the disposal of unclaimed bodies and puts into sharp focus the national fingerprints register.

Investigations by The Standard on Sunday have revealed that police and public health officials lack a consistent policy on the disposal of such bodies, and as a result, corpses sometimes stay in mortuaries for years on end.