By Jael Nyabuti
The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has issued an urgent seven-day public notice regarding the collection of 395 unclaimed bodies currently held in its morgue.
As of June 25th, the hospital has released a seven-day notice for the public to serve as a critical reminder to families and the community to reclaim their deceased loved ones before the hospital is compelled to take further action.
The hospital has provided a comprehensive list of names, genders, and tag numbers of the unclaimed bodies, urging the public to identify and collect them promptly.
According to the notice, the bodies are scheduled for disposal if they remain unclaimed after the lapse of the seven-day period.
“Pursuant to Public Health Act Cap 242 [Subsidiary: Public health (Public mortuaries) Rules, 19911 (2). 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 courts to dispose them,” the notice read.
KNH has outlined the necessary steps for claiming the bodies, which include providing identification, verifying the relationship with the deceased, and completing the required legal formalities.
If the bodies remain unclaimed, KNH will seek court authorization to proceed with the disposal of the bodies in a respectful manner highlighting the hospital’s commitment to maintaining public health standards and ensuring that unclaimed bodies are handled with dignity.
It is not the first incident, on June 6, 2023, KNH had to dispose of 238 unclaimed bodies from its morgue, indicating an ongoing challenge in managing unclaimed deceased individuals.
The hospital’s morgue is currently holding these bodies, and KNH urges the public to act swiftly. However, KNH offers support and guidance to families experiencing financial difficulties to ensure a dignified handover of their loved ones.
KNH’s public notice serves as a stark reminder of the human aspect of public health and the importance of community involvement in such matters as this collective effort can help provide a respectful closure for the deceased and alleviate the burden on the hospital’s facilities.
The hospital’s staff are available to provide assistance and support to those affected, ensuring that the process of reclaiming a loved one is as smooth and compassionate as possible.
For further details, including the complete list of unclaimed bodies, please visit Kenyatta National Hospital’s official website or contact their administrative office directly.