Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has issued an ultimatum to the government over bodies retrieved from Shakahola forest.

Governor Mung’aro threatened to move the bodies from Malindi sub-County Hospital to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.

He was speaking on Friday, May 3 during a food donation exercise in Magarini sub-County for families affected by floods.

The county boss said the bodies had become a nuisance to patients and the county itself owing to the huge bills incurred to preserve the bodies.

“For those who have been visiting Malindi sub county hospital you must have realized there is a foul smell coming from the mobile mortuary. I have constructed nice wards in the hospital but the foul smell comes from the containers preserving the Shakahola bodies,” Mung’aro explained.

He advised the Ministry of Interior, which is responsible for the bodies, to evacuate them by Monday next week.

“By Monday if the government will not have removed the bodies doctors in the hospital should tow the containers and dump them in Kenyatta National Hospital.”

Governor Mung’aro said his county had so far paid electricity bills amounting to KSh36 million for preservation of the bodies, money which he said would have been used for other activities.

“I have paid power bills using money meant for Kilifi people. I have paid money to support the activities in Shakahola. This is a national government function. I do not have a budget for that. How do I account for such money when the auditor general questions the expenditure?”

The county boss claimed efforts to reach Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki have been futile.

“I pay Ksh 2.9 million every month. I have tried to get help from the government but in vain. I talked to the regional commissioner and he called Nairobi and they promised to help but nothing has happened.”

Consequently, he urged Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa to assist him reach out to CS Kindiki and President William Ruto to resolve the matter.

Governor Mung’aro expressed disappointment in the stalled disposal of bodies, as the portion where they are preserved was earmarked for expansion of Malindi Hospital which has since been delayed.

“We want to construct an emergency and outpatient wing where the containers are. We have already floated the tender worth Ksh 150 million but we cannot go ahead with the construction because of the containers.”

Out of the 429 Shakahola bodies being preserved at the hospital, only six have so far been released to families for burial.