Seven unknown bodies still lie at Yala morgue

A team of DNA experts at Yala sub-county hospital mortuary in Siaya county after collecting samples from the bodies retrieved at River Yala. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Seven unknown bodies are lying at Yala sub-county hospital mortuary, hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Bruno Okal has said.

The bodies are said to have been retrieved from the river and its banks in the last two months.

Okal is now appealing to the public to come forward and help in identifying the seven bodies at the morgue.

According to Okal, three of the bodies were recovered from River Yala and four along the river within the community.

"Six of the bodies are of males and one female," he said.

With a capacity of 16 bodies, Okal says the facility is overstretched.

"By virtue of being along the border, the facility serves at least three counties. We've run out of space because of the uncollected bodies," he added.

Earlier this year, River hit headlines after 32 bodies were retrieved.

13 bodies were positively identified by their kin and collected for burial from the mortuary.

Some of the bodies had ropes around their necks and the fingers were severed or burnt in what authorities believe was meant to erase their identities.