Residents of an estate in Nanyuki town have protested to authorities accusing the local police of slow response in collecting the body of a 30-year-old woman who died in her house on Monday night.
Zamzam Narupo is said to have died in the house at Majengo estate where she was living in with a relative at around 9.00pm, but her body was collected by police officers on Tuesday at noon.
“We reported the incident to our Chief and police officers immediately we discovered Zamzam had died, but to our surprise said that their vehicles did not have fuel,” said Maryann Wangui, a resident.
She noted that police officers are usually prompt while arresting chang’aa and other drug dealers but slow when responding to other emergencies affecting residents.
Wangui added that delay in collecting the body from the house had caused panic in the area, noting that there was Covid-19 pandemic.
Some of those who interacted with the deceased during the day said she did not show any signs of sickness
Nanyuki police station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Onesmus Chege, who led other officers in picking the body confirmed that a report of person who had died in the house had been made.
“It is true a report was made at the police station but sadly those people failed or refused to direct our officers to the house. Saying that our vehicles did not have fuel is a false accusation,” said the OCS at the scene.
Nanyuki Location Chief Duncan Wachira also dismissed the allegation that police officers refused to collect the body immediately. He said relatives and neighbours refused to cooperate and show police officers the exact house where the body was lying.
The body was taken to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
By Martin Munyi