Sonko Vows to Clear Mortuary Bills After Witnessing Family Suffering at City Mortuary

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has pledged to settle outstanding mortuary bills for families struggling to collect the bodies of their loved ones from the City Mortuary, following a visit that exposed the dire conditions at the facility.

Sonko was at the mortuary to assist in identifying the body of Michael Okoth, a young man from Kibera who tragically lost his life during a stampede as mourners gathered to view the body of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

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The former governor was visibly shaken by the congestion and chaos at the facility, where grieving families were being held back by unpaid bills, unable to give their deceased relatives a dignified burial.
“I was really moved by the sight of helpless families stuck at City Mortuary because of unpaid bills,” Sonko said during his visit. “A permanent solution is urgently needed to end this suffering.”
The overcrowded conditions at the mortuary have forced families into desperate situations, with many unable to afford the accumulating storage fees. The congestion has been exacerbated by the recent influx of bodies following the stampede tragedy that claimed multiple lives.
Sonko announced his commitment to clearing the mortuary bills for Michael Okoth and other victims who died in the stampede, offering immediate relief to the affected families.
The former governor’s intervention highlights the broader systemic challenges facing public mortuaries in Kenya, where poor families often face the additional trauma of being unable to retrieve their loved ones’ bodies due to financial constraints.

The stampede incident that claimed Okoth’s life occurred as thousands of mourners converged to pay their last respects to Raila Odinga, underscoring the need for better crowd management during major public events.
Sonko’s gesture has been welcomed by the affected families, though many are calling on government authorities to address the root causes of mortuary congestion and implement sustainable solutions to prevent similar situations in the future.

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