Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has released a public notice regarding 124 unclaimed bodies currently lying at its Farewell Home mortuary. The hospital is urging families, relatives, and members of the public to assist in the identification and collection of the remains.
According to the notice, the hospital has provided a seven-day window for next of kin or representatives to come forward and claim the bodies. If no claims are made within this period, KNH will proceed to seek court authorization for the disposal of the remains, in accordance with existing legal and health regulations.
“Kenyatta National Hospital is in possession of a number of unclaimed bodies at its Farewell Home. Interested members of the public are requested to identify and collect the bodies within seven (7) days. Failure to do so will compel the hospital to seek court authority for their disposal,” the hospital stated.
This process is guided by public health laws and mortuary management protocols in Kenya. Under the law, if a body remains unclaimed for 21 days, the institution must issue a 14-day public notice as an attempt to locate next of kin. If no response is received, the hospital is permitted to seek a court order to dispose of the bodies.
Disposal typically involves burial in public cemeteries or designated mass graves, often without formal funeral rites. These measures are necessary to preserve mortuary space and uphold sanitary standards, especially in high-volume public hospitals such as KNH.
Hospital officials have emphasized that the appeal is part of a standard but sensitive process aimed at balancing public health responsibilities with dignity and respect for the deceased. Families who may have missing loved ones are encouraged to visit the hospital promptly to assist in identification efforts.
The notice has prompted renewed discussion around the need for improved tracking systems for unidentified persons, greater public awareness of hospital procedures, and stronger community engagement in times of loss.
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