The independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) in collaboration with Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice has set up a toll free help line (0800-720006) on which people with missing or dead relatives due to the post election skirmishes can call and report.

This, the organization’s executive director, Mr. Samuel Mohochi , says is in response to the a rapid assessment on the ground by IMLU that revealed there surging number of unidentified bodies lying in mortuaries across the country, while some families have buried their loved ones without conducting post-mortems.

Families with missing relatives and children with no guardians in various IDP camps can also use the service.

IMLU has conducted at least 74 post-mortems in the past week whose report is yet to be released. The post-mortem services are offered for free and only require the consent of the deceased’s family.

“We operate on informed consent. For everyone we touch there has to be a family”, said Mohochi. The twelve hour service number also seeks to assist rape victims seek medical and legal aid.

It is expected that the information provided by the victims will be desegregated by gender, age, ethnicity, geographical spread, indicative nature of injuries sustained, alleged perpetrators and compliance with legal procedures in case of suspicious deaths.

Mr. Mohochi added that the information will support follow-up medico-legal interventions which include appropriate legal advice, provision of forensic services and treatment where necessary.

It is estimated that over 1000 people have been killed and over 300,000 internally displaced after the announcement of the last December’s disputed presidential poll results. The Kenya Red Cross society is also working on re-uniting affected families.

The initiative is supported by Safaricom.

Nairobi, February 8, 2008