Family of ICC witness Meshack Yebei pins hopes on another body found in Tsavo

The family of ICC witness Meshack Yebei says it is more than 90 per cent convinced the unclaimed body that has been lying at Moi Voi Hospital mortuary since December 30 is that of their missing kin.

Speaking at the hospital after inspecting the body on Friday, The Reverend Moses Kisorio said it has many features resembling those of his younger brother, Meshack.

He spoke after detectives took samples from the body for DNA tests.

“We have identified Yebei through the physical features on the body. We are up to 92 per cent sure it is him. But to be sure about this, we will wait for a scientific confirmation,” he told Nation.co.ke.

He said the family would remain patient for the next one to two weeks for the results, which also include those of finger prints taken to the Registry of Persons in Nairobi.

Meshack's wife, Lillian, said a closer examination convinced her the body, which was collected from Man Eaters near Manyani in Tsavo National Park three days after his disappearance, is highly likely to be that of his missing husband.

DNA TESTING

“I am sure it is him (Yebei). I am convinced by the many features which I closely looked at,” she said.

Moi Voi Hospital Medical Superintendent Abel Mwenja said they allowed the family to physically examine the body before the extraction of the samples, which was done in two identical packages.

“A duplicate collection of samples has been taken  for the purpose of DNA testing. We expect the results in five to 10 days from today,” the doctor said.

A government and family pathologist, the family, officers from the Serious Crime Unit, a doctor from the hospital and a human rights activist group, Haki Africa, were represented during the sample collection.

The family was represented by pathologists from Lancent Kenya, who will do an independent test parallel to that of the government.

Meshack's wife said if the scientific tests confirm that the body is that if her husband, they will proceed to conduct a post-mortem to establish the cause of death.

The Rev Kisorio said after the post-mortem, they would take the body home in Uasin Gishu County for burial.

DUMPING OF BODIES

Despite the optimism, the family said if the body turns out not to be that of their kin, they would continue with the search.

The Rev Kisorio said police led by Serious Crime Unit officer John Kariuki have closely worked with them since his brother went missing on December 28.

The Yebeis had in December 2014 laid claim to another body that was found floating in River Yala in Nandi County.

The same body was claimed by the family of Yusuf Hussein, a resident of Kaimosi who was working as a matatu tout and who disappeared at the same time Yebei was reported missing

A DNA test in January confirmed the remains that lay at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for over a month were those of Yusuf Hussein.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid asked the government to investigate and arrest those behind the killing and dumping of bodies in the Tsavo National Park.

He said it is has been an ongoing practice and those behind the atrocities hope the bodies will be eaten by wild animals.