Residents of Baringo South are still trying to wrap their heads around a bizarre crime that has left many both amused and appalled - thieves broke into a mortuary and made away with body trays.
The incident happened just days before the mortuary, the only one in Baringo South, was scheduled to be officially opened to the public. The facility is meant to serve residents of Tiaty and Baringo South.
According to local authorities, the thieves not only took the body trays but also carted away vital power cables, rendering the mortuary completely inoperable. The incident has delayed the commissioning of the facility indefinitely.
Bereaved families have been transporting their dead kin to far-flung areas like Kabarnet, Ravine, or Nakuru - adding emotional strain and financial burden during an already difficult time.
Authorities and local elders condemned the incident. According to them, it is the high demand for scrap metal in the town that has made idle youths go to extremes and vandalise even mortuaries.
Vandalism has been on the rise in the county of Baringo, with locals calling upon the government to ban the sale of scrap metal.
“The mortuary was meant to bring dignity and convenience to grieving families,” said a public health officer at Marigat Subcounty Hospital. “But it has now become a symbol of how vulnerable public projects are to criminal exploitation.”
Meanwhile, similar acts of sabotage have brought the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme, in the same county - Baringo, one of Kenya’s oldest and most vital agricultural projects, to a standstill as thieves have stolen equipment.
Farmers at the scheme have reported an increase in the theft of gate valves and water intake systems, which are critical for regulating the flow of irrigation water.
With these parts missing, water flows uncontrollably through canals, bypassing farmlands that depend on precise distribution. The result: wilting crops, rising tensions, and fears of escalating conflict between farmers.
“The situation is becoming volatile. These valves are essential for fair water distribution. Without them, some farms flood while others dry up, breeding resentment within the farming community,” said Daniel Waweru, Manager of the Perkerra Irrigation Board.
