KNH threatens to dispose of 262 unclaimed bodies within 7 days
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has issued an urgent public notice calling on relatives and members of the public to identify and collect 262 unclaimed bodies currently held at its farewell home.
The hospital, through a public notice on MyGov on June 3, 2025, has given a seven-day deadline for the collection. Failure to claim the bodies within this period will compel KNH to seek court authorisation to proceed with their disposal, in line with the Public Health Act Cap 242 and the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules, 1991.
“In accordance with the Public Health Act Cap 242 and the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules, 1991, members of the public are hereby requested to identify and collect unclaimed bodies held at the hospital’s Farewell Home within seven days. Failure to do so will necessitate the hospital to seek court authority to dispose of these bodies,” the public notice read in part.
The unclaimed bodies include 246 infants and 16 adults. This growing number has placed significant pressure on the hospital’s mortuary facilities, making it necessary for the hospital to take swift action.
The Public Health Act Cap 242 allows public mortuaries to dispose of unclaimed bodies only after exhausting all reasonable efforts to trace the next of kin and securing court approval. This legal framework is in place to balance public health concerns and the humane treatment of the deceased.
Challenges faced by mortuaries
Various hospitals in the country have been forced to deal with the growing issue of unclaimed bodies.
For instance, in February 2025, Nairobi County issued a seven-day notice for the collection of 236 unclaimed bodies, warning that they would be disposed of if not claimed.
Nairobi County indicated that 218 bodies were at the Nairobi City Mortuary, while 18 were at Mama Lucy Kibaki Funeral Home.
“Pursuant to the Public Health Act Cap 242, interested members are asked to identify and collect the bodies within seven days, failure to which Nairobi City County will seek authority for disposal,” the notice stated.
The unclaimed bodies were linked to various causes of death, including accidents, suicide, mob justice, drowning, shooting incidents, homicide, and natural causes.
In April 2025, Nakuru County issued a 21-day public notice for the disposal of 59 unclaimed bodies that had remained in two major public morgues for over three months.
The deceased included 15 adults and 22 infants at the Annex facility, and 22 adults at the referral hospital.
“The bodies have overstayed in the facilities, hampering effective service delivery. Interested members of the public are urged to identify and collect the bodies within 21 days, after which the county government will seek authority for disposal,” Nakuru announced.
Other counties have also continued to grapple with this issue affecting their service delivery.
