Editor's Review

The hospital asked members of the public to identify and collect the bodies within seven days, failure to which the hospital would dispose of them.

The management of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has announced the disposal of 262 unclaimed bodies at its Farewell Home.

In a public notice, the hospital asked members of the public to identify and collect the bodies within seven days, failure to which the hospital would dispose of them.

"Kenyatta National Hospital is in possession of a number of unclaimed bodies at its Farewell Home. Pursuant to the Public Health Act Cap 242 (Subsidiary Legislation PUBLIC HEALTH (PUBLIC MORTUARIES) RULES, 1991), interested members of the public are therefore requested to identify and collect the bodies within 7 days, failure to which the hospital will seek authority from the courts to dispose them," KNH management said.

Notably, the Public Health Act (Cap 242) governs the disposal of unclaimed bodies. 

It mandates that nobody can remain in a mortuary for more than 10 days without being claimed. 

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If a body remains unclaimed for 21 days, authorities must seek a court order for disposal after issuing a 14-day public notice to locate next of kin. 

Unclaimed bodies are typically buried in public cemeteries or mass graves, often without rites, to manage space in mortuaries.

Attached below is the Farewell Home disposal list;