Kericho man stored in mortuary alive now dies

Peter Kigen at Kapkatet sub-county hospital on November 24, 2020. [Nikko Tanui, Standard]

The man who grabbed headlines after he was presumed dead and taken to the mortuary at Kapkatet Hospital for three hours before regaining consciousness has died.

Peter Kigen died Thursday afternoon at Kericho County Hospital after being transferred to the health facility from Kapkatet, his family confirmed.

The 32-year-old was suffering from a chronic disease.

"Kigen was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kericho County Hospital where he was being transferred to from Kapkatet for further treatment and management," Hezbon Tonui, the family spokesman told Standard Digital.

"I am on the way to the deceased family's home to pass my condolences," he added

On November 24, mortuary attendants were getting ready to embalm Kigen's body when they noticed some movements and resuscitated him.

The hospital’s medical superintendent Gilbert Cheruiyot said Kigen was in critical condition when he was brought in.

Dr Cheruiyot said: “His relatives presumed he was dead and did not even wait for certification of death. They moved him to the mortuary, on their own.”

The death of Kigen comes a day after Members of the Kericho County Assembly rejected a report by a committee recommending the demotion Dr Cheruiyot over the incident.

At least 22 ward representatives voted against the report which caused a heated debate and division during the morning sitting.

The body is lying at Kericho County Hospital mortuary.