Why displaying coffins near hospitals has been banned in Elgeyo Marakwet

Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly have a passed a motion outlawing traders from making and displaying coffins near hospital gates.

The ward reps in unanimously passing the motion moved by Kapyego Member of County Assembly (MCA) Evans Limo observed that such action has served to stigmatize the patient and their caregivers other than giving hope of healing.

“We want to regulate the manufacture and sale of coffins in the county. At the gate of Iten County Referral Hospital and other health facilities, I have noted coffins are prominently displayed near the gates. This only serves to instill fear on patients that they will return to their home in coffins and should be discouraged,” the MCA told the Nation.

He said the trade should be regulated to ensure they do not catch the eye of the ailing person taken to hospital.

“We need them done in backstreet shops and maybe signposts erected for buyers to locate them. Or better still, they should be taken nearby the mortuary because that is where they are needed but not at the hospital gate,” said Mr Limo. 

Mr Limo recounted an incident where he had brought a patient to the hospital but wailed when she saw a coffin a few meters from the hospital gate.

“From now henceforth, the Finance and Economic Planning Executive should put in place proper measures to ensure that they initiate a conscious effort together with coffin traders in the County to make their wares less visible to the public visiting health facilities across the County,” he said.

But area residents took to social media bashing the MCAs for the motion noting there are other pressing issues which needs urgent intervention other than such discussions.

“Coffins around hospitals is a non-issue, your efforts should concentrate on adequate healthcare staff, uninterrupted flow of supplies, consistent quality enforcements, affordability of healthcare,” Chelal Weriitab Korongoryot said.

Mr Hillary Limo faulted the MCAs for what he termed as ‘poor decision making’ wondering ‘how can this improve service delivery surely?’

Mr Jonathan Kimutai another local questioned how the motion will improve service delivery dismissing the MCAs of being superstitious.

“How will this improve service delivery? Work towards pragmatic laws and policies and not superstitions. You are only increasing costs to the affected people,” he said.

But Mr Julius Kiptanui, held a contrary opinion; “This is truly an important motion, you cannot display a coffin to a patient visiting a health facility, it's like having a morgue at the gate of a hospital, meanwhile service delivery is core,” he stated.

Mr George Malakwen said according to the local culture, just seeing a coffin on display instills a lot of fear among the Keiyos and Marakwet and hailed the MCAs for ‘the good move’.

Mr David Weyime said it was a very backward reasoning for the MCAs to discuss such matters.

“Instead of coming up with policies that ensure steady flow of drugs and other commodities, this is how best the MCAs reason. Please close the mortuaries as well so that people do not die,” he said.

However, MCA Limo said critics are entitled to their opinions maintaining that stigma associated with death was real and they need to be protected. 

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