Intern doctor Desree Moraa buried

Desree Moraa, the intern doctor who committed suicide in Gatundu two weeks ago was buried on Tuesday in an emotional ceremony at her father's home in Nyagiki Village, Kisii County.

The 27-year-old doctor who graduated from Egerton University was buried two weeks after the family was assured that indeed she died as a result of suicide.

Moraa, the last born in a family of six, was a medical intern at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital in Kiambu County at the time of her death.

The burial had been delayed to give way for her family members including her parents who live in the US to travel back home.

A sombre mood engulfed the village as relatives, friends and fellow medics gathered at Itumbe Market to give their last respects to the young professional.

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Her mother, Margaret Obwogi who is a retired nurse moved the mourners to tears as she narrated how she would work night and day to earn overtime payments to pay her school fees.

"When I heard about the death of my daughter while in the US, I was shocked and I could not understand myself until much later when I started to sink into reality," Mrs Obwogi narrated.

Her father, Jackson Obwogi described the death of his daughter as a big blow to him and the family.

And even as the family struggled to come into terms with the death, the government was put on the receiving end with family and representatives of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) condemning it for doing little in addressing the plight of especially intern doctors.

The family, through their spokesman, Amos Nyasani said the late Moraa committed suicide due to work-related pressures and asked the government to take responsibility and account for the life lost.

KMPDU Nyanza Branch Chairman Dr Onyango Ndong'a and the Secretary General Dr Aggredy Orwenyo who represented their national colleagues too blamed the government for not heeding to their calls to improve the welfare of medical practitioners.

They urged the Government to fast track past collective bargaining agreements that were signed and were yet to be honoured.