Crisis after Mombasa cemeteries space diminish in wake of Covid
Mombasa is running out of burial space with cemeteries almost full amidst fears growing Covid-19 fatalities have overstretched the grounds.
This is even as Mombasa County Muslim Covid-19 response committee sparked worries over growing number of home deaths, especially amongst the Muslim community in the county.
Kikowani Cemetery deputy chairman Captain Twalib Khamis raised fears that the number of deaths experienced in the past one week has been worrying and could force residents seek alternative areas to bury their loved ones.
Khamis said all the deaths reported by the ministry of health do not correspond to the number of burials witnessed in the cemeteries, some of which have similar characteristics to Covid-19 disease.
In the last two weeks he said the Kikowani Cemetery has witnessed between 3-5 Covid-19 deaths per day raising fears of a looming shortage of burial space, which has been occasioned by the spread of Covid-19 in the second phase.
“In the last two weeks we have witnessed a spike in burials at the Kikowani cemetery, according to our statistics, we are registering between 2-3 burials in a day, some of which are linked to corona virus, and this is worrying us because the rate sends a very tough warning,“ said Khamis.
By November 1, Mombasa had registered over 94 deaths which have only been captured by the government statistics, however officials manning the cemeteries in Mombasa read mischief with the number, alluding that the number could be more according to their records.
“We keep statistics at our Kikowani cemetery. We used to get 2-3 bodies per week before corona came but now we are getting 3-5 in a day and this started a few weeks ago when the second phase kicked in,” Khamis told People Daily.
