KNH issues notice to dispose 124 unclaimed bodies
The hospital says some of the bodies have remained unclaimed for an extended period of time
Kenyans have seven days to check and identify unclaimed and uncollected bodies at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
This is after the hospital announced plans to dispose the 124 unclaimed bodies lying at their farewell home which remain unidentified.
In a notice to the public, the hospital has urged individuals who may have lost their loved ones to go and identify their remains at their morgue.
“Kenyatta National Hospital is in possession of a number of unclaimed bodies at its Farewell Home. 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 of them,” the statement by KNH read in part.
Among the 124 unclaimed bodies, more than 91 babies while 33 are for adults.
The hospital revealed that some of the bodies have remained unclaimed for an extended period of time.
It added that if the bodies are not identified within the given time, the hospital will seek permission from the courts to dispose of them.
The disposal process is guided by the Public Health Act, which states that no body should stay in a mortuary for more than 10 days without being claimed.
If a body remains unclaimed for 21 days, a court order is required after a 14-day public notice.
Recently, health officials have raised concerns about the growing number of unclaimed bodies.
Unclaimed bodies are usually buried in public cemeteries or mass graves without traditional rites.
The hospital says this step is necessary to free up space in the already overcrowded mortuary.
