KISUMU, Kenya — The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has issued a 21-day public notice for 47 unclaimed bodies lying at its mortuary, urging families with missing relatives to come forward for identification before disposal under public health regulations.
In a statement released Wednesday, March 25, the hospital said the remains include 32 male adults, two children, among them including a two-year-old, 13 foetuses, one female adult, and one unidentified skull. The hospital noted that the bodies have remained unclaimed for more than three months.
“The bodies have remained unclaimed for more than three (3) months and are therefore due for disposal in accordance with public health regulations,” the statement read.
Hospital records indicate the deceased were recovered from multiple locations across Kisumu County and surrounding areas.
These include the JOOTRH casualty department, newborn unit, Ward 3A and Ward 7, as well as Kisumu Stadium, Otonglo Village, Daraja Mbili, the World Vision area, Kisumu Bus Terminus, Coptic, and Nyalenda, including roadside recoveries.
Other locations listed include Holo, Nyawita dumpsite, Kanyakwar, Usoma, Kibos — including Kibos Farm, irrigation areas and Kibos River — Carwash, Kapuonja, Kasawino, Kisumu CBD, Obunga, Arina, Manyatta and Lolwe, among others.
According to the hospital, the causes of death vary widely. The cases include sudden deaths, drowning incidents, mob injustice, road accidents, including hit-and-run cases, abortions in the case of foetuses, and instances where the cause of death remains unknown.
JOOTRH also indicated that some recoveries were reported through police stations, including Kisumu Central, Kondele, Obunga, Kasagam, Bondo DCI, Migosi/Gita, Maseno, and Kogony, while others had no recorded police details.
Members of the public with missing relatives have been asked to visit the JOOTRH mortuary between March 30 and April 24, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to assist in identification.
“Failure to claim the bodies within the stipulated period will necessitate their disposal in accordance with public health regulations. JOOTRH appeals for cooperation from the public to ensure that families are given an opportunity to identify and accord their loved ones a dignified send-off,” the hospital said.
The notice comes a day after Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) announced it is holding 480 unclaimed bodies at its Farewell Home. The hospital issued a seven-day notice for identification, indicating that the remains include 102 adults and 378 children.
KNH said it would seek court authority to dispose of the bodies if no claims are made within the stipulated period.
Under the Public Health Act (Cap 242), bodies should not remain in public mortuaries for more than ten days unless there are legal or administrative reasons. The law allows extended preservation where next of kin notify the Medical Officer of Health in writing, after which a decision is made on continued storage.
The notices from both JOOTRH and KNH highlight mounting pressure on public mortuaries, with hospitals urging families to identify missing relatives to enable dignified burials and ease congestion in the facilities.
