Lamu’s Silent Crisis: Families Face Death Without a Morgue

Neema Pola sat beside the body of her 25-year-old son, Eric Ngala, at King Fahd County Referral Hospital on 31 October 2025, after he was recovered from the Indian Ocean, with no functioning mortuary available on the island.

Lamu Island, home to around 25,000 people, currently lacks an operational mortuary. Families are forced to transport bodies to the mainland for preservation, a process that can cost over Sh10,000 for boat hire, plus additional charges of Sh10,000 to Sh40,000 for road transport to facilities in Mpeketoni, Malindi, Kilifi or Mombasa. 

For many residents, these costs are prohibitive, resulting in hurried burials and considerable emotional strain. King Fahd Hospital contains a structure originally intended as a temporary holding point for bodies, but it has been unused for years and now serves as storage. 

The only functioning mortuary in the county is at Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital, far from the island. The lack of local facilities affects both Muslim families, who traditionally bury the dead quickly, and non-Muslims, who may require time for postmortems, preservation, or burial arrangements elsewhere.

Community members have highlighted the difficulties they face. Charles Kaberia, who lost a cousin to drowning at Shella Beach, described transporting the decomposing body to Malindi for preservation before taking it to Meru for burial. Lucy Kimeu spoke of the financial and logistical challenges, while Boniface Hinzano urged the county to provide mortuary services that respect all religious traditions. 

Local groups have also emphasised the need to maintain dignity for the deceased and support grieving families. The shortage of public cemeteries for non-Muslims adds another challenge. Lamu Municipality officials confirmed that existing burial grounds are historic family-owned plots for Muslim burials, leaving non-Muslims without designated sites. Families have been forced to raise funds for transport or conduct hasty burials.

County authorities acknowledge the problem but cite budget constraints. Deputy Governor Mbarak Salim, who also serves as County Health Executive, stated that plans are in place to build a mortuary at King Fahd Hospital in the next financial year, with a projected cost of Sh10–12 million. He noted that the county prioritised an Intensive Care Unit first, which is now operational, and assured residents that the mortuary project will follow.