- Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has 260 unclaimed bodies at its Farewell Home.
- Public has seven days to identify and collect the remains.
- If not claimed, KNH will seek court permission for disposal.
- This follows laws under the Public Health Act and mortuary rules.
- The hospital recently disposed of 124 other unclaimed bodies.
- KNH encourages families with missing loved ones to visit and verify.
Kenyatta National Hospital has sent out a strong appeal asking the public to help identify and claim 260 bodies that remain uncollected at its Farewell Home. The hospital announced that people have exactly seven days to do so, or it will begin the legal process to dispose of the remains.
The hospital is acting under the Public Health Act Cap 242 and Mortuary Rules of 1991, which allow for the disposal of unclaimed bodies after proper notice. Any body left in a public morgue for over 10 days also attracts a daily fee of Ksh. 100. After 21 days, the facility can legally seek a court’s approval to proceed with burial.
In the official notice released Tuesday, KNH stated:
“We are in possession of several unclaimed bodies at the Farewell Home. Members of the public are urged to identify and collect them within seven days. If not, the hospital will move to obtain legal clearance to dispose of them.”
List Based on Gender and Tag Numbers
While specific names were not released, the hospital included gender and body tag numbers in its records to aid identification. The deceased range in age from infants to older adults, representing a wide cross-section of the population.
KNH is asking anyone who may have lost contact with loved ones or suspects a missing family member to visit the Farewell Home. Hospital staff are ready to support families in confirming the identity of the bodies.
This new notice comes just a week after KNH carried out the disposal of 124 other unclaimed bodies. Like before, the process followed all legal procedures, with most remains buried in public cemeteries without traditional rites or ceremonies.
The hospital has assured the public that assistance will be provided to those seeking help during the identification process. It emphasized the importance of timely action to avoid court-authorized mass burials.
