NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has issued a public notice calling on families to identify and collect 124 unclaimed bodies lying at its mortuary, warning that the hospital will seek court permission to dispose of the remains if no one comes forward within seven days.
Among the unclaimed remains are 91 babies and 33 adults—some of whom have been stored at the facility’s Farewell Home for extended periods.
The hospital cited overcrowding and legal obligations as key reasons for the move, saying it is running out of space in its already congested mortuary.
“This is a public appeal to individuals who may have lost their loved ones,” the notice read. “Interested members of the public are requested to identify and collect the bodies within seven days. Failure to do so will compel the hospital to obtain a court order for disposal.”
The process is guided by provisions in the Public Health Act, which stipulate that bodies should not remain in morgues for more than 10 days without being claimed.
In cases where bodies are left unclaimed for more than 21 days, health facilities are required to issue a 14-day public notice before seeking court approval for disposal.
Health authorities say the rising number of unclaimed bodies reflects broader social issues, including economic hardship, family disintegration, and gaps in the identification of deceased persons.
KNH is not alone in facing this dilemma. Between 2003 and 2006, the hospital disposed of approximately 3,000 unclaimed bodies, while Nairobi’s City Mortuary buried around 2,500 during the same period.
In the first five months of 2006 alone, both facilities handled over 1,500 unclaimed corpses—incurring nearly Sh5 million in losses due to unpaid mortuary fees.
The standard practice for unclaimed bodies is mass burial in public cemeteries, often without formal rites or the presence of family.
While the current number is smaller than in previous years, health officials warn that the trend remains concerning, particularly the high number of abandoned infants.
The hospital has not indicated whether it will publish names or case details of the deceased to aid in identification.
The appeal adds urgency for families with missing relatives to check with the hospital before the legal window closes.
