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Ebola restrictions delay return of Trans-Nzoia man's body from DRC
A portrait Wycliffe Makheti Muchaka who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A family in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia County, is going through a difficult time as they try to bring home the body of a relative who died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) three weeks ago.
Ebola travel restrictions have frustrated their attempts to repatriate the body.
A portrait Wycliffe Makheti Muchaka who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Wycliffe Makheti Muchaka was a mechanic who worked in the Durba region of north-eastern DRC. His family is appealing to the government for intervention after attempts to transport his body by road failed.
Mr Muchaka moved to the DRC in search of better job opportunities and had been working there under a temporary work permit for one and a half years.
According to his relatives, he maintained regular contact with them. On May 30, they received news of his death.
A neighbour informed them that Mr Muchaka had been found dead under unclear circumstances along a road near his residence in Durba.
His body is currently at the Centre Hospital Kibali in the Durba region. However, hospital authorities have reportedly issued an ultimatum warning that the remains could be buried locally if they are not collected soon.
When journalists visited the family home in Lukhuma village, relatives, friends, and neighbours had gathered to discuss how to bring the deceased home for burial.
His mother, Hellen Muchaka, said: “It’s been 22 days since he died, and bringing his body home remains a huge challenge. The mortuary bill continues to rise, and we are completely frustrated.”
"We received the news (of his death) early in the morning and it left us traumatised. My son died thousands of kilometres away and I have not even had a chance to see him. He has left behind children, and I do not know what to tell them," she said.
The family of Wycliffe Makheti Muchaka at their home in Lukhuna, Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
According to Benjamin Wamalwa, a relative, two family members accompanied by hearse drivers travelled towards the Uganda-DRC border on June 12, hoping to collect the remains. However, they were turned back at the Vurra-Aru border crossing due to restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak.
"They were stopped at the border and denied entry into the DRC. They had no choice but to return home without the body," Wamalwa said.
The family claims that heightened security measures and movement restrictions imposed to contain the spread of Ebola have made cross-border travel nearly impossible.
"We were informed that nobody would be allowed into the DRC because of the Ebola situation. The body remains in the mortuary and the bill keeps increasing every day," Wamalwa added.
The mounting mortuary fees have worsened the family's distress. Relatives estimate that they are required to raise more than Sh300,000 before the body can be released.
The family is now appealing to the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs for help with the airlift of the remains to Kenya, as they are overwhelmed by financial and logistical challenges.
"We are completely stuck. If the government can help airlift the body to Nairobi, it would be a huge relief because every attempt to transport it by road has failed," said Ben Situma, a family member.
Ms Muchaka added, "We are pleading with our leaders to help bring my son's body home so that we can give him a dignified burial. Our culture does not allow us to leave our loved ones buried in a foreign land."
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