Anger as Kisii family is forced to “bury” banana stem amid soaring morgue fees

A grieving family in Motonyoni village in Masaba South, Kisii County, has sparked national concern after conducting a symbolic burial for their relative due to an unpaid mortuary bill.

The family of Obadiah Obwogo Nyasing’a, already struggling financially, had hoped to raise funds through community contributions and WhatsApp appeals to secure the release of the body. However, three months later, the accumulating morgue fees had risen beyond their reach.

Faced with no alternatives, the family made the painful decision to proceed with funeral rites without the body.

On Tuesday, relatives, neighbours, and local leaders gathered at the homestead, where a banana stem was cut and used in place of the deceased’s remains. Mourners prayed and paid their last respects in an emotional ceremony marked by grief and frustration.

Family spokesperson Henry Ondieki said the decision was made as a last resort after weeks of unsuccessful fundraising.

“It hasn’t been easy getting here. We are financially depleted; everything we had went to settling the hospital bill. We did not anticipate such a staggering mortuary fee,” Ondieki said.

He revealed that the morgue had initially agreed to release the body upon payment of Sh100,000 out of the total Sh412,000 bill, but later demanded more money when the family arrived to collect it.

“It was shocking that when we turned up to collect the body, they instead sent us back for more money, which we did not have,” he said.

Ondieki noted that the burial arrangements were largely driven by well-wishers, as the deceased came from a vulnerable background.

“This is purely a compassionate, community-driven effort. There are no other relatives here,” he added.

He further accused the mortuary of attempting to compel the family to use its hearse services and purchase a coffin from the facility—claims that have intensified public anger.

However, a morgue official, identified only as Peter, denied the allegations, maintaining that the facility had not imposed such conditions.

“What we are aware of is the outstanding bill. No one has forced them to use our hearse or buy a coffin from us,” he said, adding that the facility remains open to negotiations.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders and residents, who say high mortuary costs are placing an unbearable burden on grieving families.

Elder Ben Mongeri called for urgent government intervention, urging authorities to review mortuary fee structures and introduce support mechanisms for low-income households.

He warned that without reforms, more families could be pushed into similar distressing situations.

The prolonged delay has also taken a toll on the community, with residents reportedly unable to fully return to their daily activities, including farming, during the three-month mourning period.

For the family of Nyasing’a, the ordeal is far from over—caught between mourning their loved one and the painful reality that his body remains unburied in the morgue.