City mortuary attendant arrested for stealing from the dead

By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: An attendant at the City Mortuary in Nairobi has been arrested for allegedly stealing from bodies of victims of Westgate Mall terror attack last month, officials said.

The female attendant is accused of stealing a gold watch from President Kenyatta’s kin who was among those killed in September 21 attack.

Kilimani Division police boss Peter Katam said they are interrogating the woman and her colleagues for stealing from the dead.

“It is criminal to steal from the dead and we intend to prosecute her after the probe is complete. Let this be a lesson if indeed that happened,” said Katam.

Some of her colleagues were arrested and interrogated Tuesday evening and but were later released.

The President’s nephew Mbugua Mwangi and his fiancée Rosemary Waithaka were among at least 70 people who died during the terror attack.

Their bodies were taken to the mortuary after they were picked up from the scene on the day of the attack.

Other officials revealed the attendants had returned a gold ring to the family but the missing watch occasioned the arrests.