Government pathologist Johansen Oduor on Wednesday outlined the main challenge he faced while conducting DNA tests on bodies retrieved from Shakahola Forest.
According to the chief pathologist, despite generating a DNA profile for the bodies, linking the victims’ DNAs to the relatives posed a major challenge resulting in delays in the verification process.
Speaking to the press following the completion of DNA tests on 34 bodies, Oduor explained that his agency has experienced difficulties in matching the deceased to samples they had received from their living relatives.
“The big challenge we had is we have done DNA profiles on some bodies, however, linking them to the people who donated their DNA is where the challenges come, they are not linked to the people who donated their DNA,” Oduor stated.
The pathologist also attributed the delays to relatives not coming out to claim the bodies of their loved ones.
According to Oduor, the government is set to kick off the process of releasing bodies that have already passed the DNA test from March 26.
"What will happen is that the relative will come with a letter from the chief so that we can be able to identify this person as the real relatives of these victims," Johansen Oduor noted.
"Secondly they will have to come with the person who donated the DNA because this is the person who was directly linked to the deceased."
Once a relative arrives to claim the body of their loved one, the relative will undergo counselling before being allowed to identify the body for burial.
Oduor stated that the verification of the bodies through DNA tests will go on until all bodies are identified.
According to the pathologist, the bodies that will not have been claimed by its owners would be buried in special graves for easy retrieval when a potential claimant emerges.
The 34 bodies so far identified are part of the 439 bodies that were retrieved from shallow graves at Shakahola Forest.
