KNH ISSUES 7-DAY ULTIMATUM TO FAMILIES AS BODIES OF 378 CHILDREN & 102 ADULTS LEFT UNCLAIMED

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has issued an urgent appeal to families and members of the public to come forward and claim 480 unclaimed bodies currently lying at its Funeral Home.

In a public notice released on March 24, the hospital management disclosed that the deceased include 102 adults and 378 children. Authorities have warned that should the remains remain unidentified within the next seven days, they will be disposed of in accordance with the law.

The facility has called on relatives and guardians to act swiftly to identify and retrieve the bodies before the deadline lapses, after which the hospital will move to seek legal clearance for disposal.

“Interested members of the public are therefore requested to identify and collect the bodies within seven days; failure to which the hospital will seek authority from the courts to dispose of them,” read the notice.

KNH cited the Public Health Act Cap 242, specifically the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules of 1991, which outline the legal framework for managing unclaimed remains. Under these regulations, medical institutions are allowed to dispose of bodies that have gone unclaimed for extended periods typically ranging from 21 days to three months provided a public notice is issued and a court order is obtained.

Before any disposal takes place, hospitals are required to obtain court approval to ensure the process remains within the legal framework. In select instances, unclaimed bodies may also be allocated for medical training and research, but only under strict guidelines set out in the Anatomy Act Cap 249 and with express authorisation from the Ministry of Health.