Family accuses hospital in burial mix-up

NYERI, Kenya, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Members of a family in Kenya said a relative was accidentally buried by another family because of alleged mistakes at a hospital.

Relatives of Hezekiah Waiganjo allege the body of the Ngunguru village resident was mistakenly given to another family by staff at Tumu Tumu Mission Hospital in Nyeri, Kenya, The Daily Nation reported Tuesday.

Nahason Gikuri, one of Waiganjo's sons, said while his family was able to locate his father's body, the remains were already buried by the other family in Kangoche village.

"We are happy that the body of our father has been traced. We want it exhumed so that we can bury him in peace," Gikuri said.

Relatives from the other family reportedly confirmed the body of their late relative was still in the hospital's mortuary.

Macharia Waiganjo, who is also one of Waiganjo's sons, told the Daily Nation the hospital should pay for its alleged mistakes.

"We have incurred a lot of costs planning for the burial and we expect that the hospital will take responsibility for the mix-up," he said.

Administration officials at the hospital did not comment on the matter.