MAN IN KENYA DEMANDS TO BURRY HIS OWN HAND AFTER FIVE YEARS

David Sanguli speaking to Human Rights activists in Mwatate over his fateful moments about his right hand that chopped off by a machine he was operating in a brush room of A sisal estate in Taita district.The chopped hand has remained in a mortuary for five years where he is required to pay sh 500,000 preservation charges.

A former machine operator, who lost his arm five years ago, is caught up in a weird battle with a mortuary for the right to bury his limb.

He won Sh1.4 million in court last year from his employer, Teita Sisal Estate, Mwatate, out of which his lawyer pocketed Sh900,000.

Now the hospital, which has faithfully kept the hand for five years, is asking for Sh500,000 — the full balance of his court award — in mortuary fees before it can release it for burial.

Mr David Sanguli, a 38-year-old father of four, lost his arm on May 7, 2007, in a work place accident.

His arm was taken to the mortuary by police in the course of their investigations.

After the probe, the former sisal farm worker says, he couldn’t have his arm back because there was already a Sh106,000 mortuary bill on it. He couldn’t pay at the time because he was also having to foot his medical expenses. That was in 2008.

Last week, when he went to the hospital, he was asked to clear the mortuary bill first.

A letter shown to the Nation from the then Wundanyi police boss Paul Odede allowed the man to go get his hand from the hospital.

Mr Sanguli was sacked when the Nation reported his plight while he was undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

After he was discharged, he waged a successful legal battle for compensation and terminal dues.

His family has since 2007 been asking Wesu District Hospital to waive the mortuary charges, but the staff maintain that the services are not free.

When contacted, the hospital administrator, Mr Emmanuel Mzae, claimed that Mr Sanguli collected his hand “months ago” after the dispute was resolved.