Bodies of 48 students killed in Garissa University attack land in Nairobi

Bodies of students killed in terror attack on Garissa University College started arriving in Nairobi on Friday, with the first batch of 48 shipped in Kenya Air Force plane.

The plane touched down at Wilson Airport a few minutes to 2pm and were transferred to Chiromo Mortuary, from where families will help in identifying them.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the government has set up a National Disaster Operations Centre to assist families and friends of victims with information on the status of their loved ones.

“The families can get the list of victims who passed away (read were killed) during the attack and where their kin can receive the body. Also, there is a manifest of students who survived the attack, where they are at the moment and how they can be linked to their families,” said Mr Macharia.

BODIES TRANSFER

At Nyayo stadium, he said, there will be information and assistance for processing transfer of bodies from Chiromo Mortuary, receiving and transfer of survivors.

The crisis operations centre is being run by officials from various ministries, and it is also offering psychosocial support and counselling services.

He said the 500 students who survived would be ferried to Nairobi using National Youth Service buses.

FACILITIES STRETCHED

Further, the CS said since facilities at Garissa Level Five Hospital have been stretched, the ministry had dispatched a truck with medical supplies.

“We have also sent a total of six medical staff, two surgeons and  four doctors and nurses, to help,” Mr Macharia told journalists at Wilson Airport.

He said the government would pay the medical bills of all victims.

“No one will be required to pay anything for whatever services provided,” he said.