Kenya: KNH Gives Families Seven Days to Claim 85 Unclaimed Bodies

What the report says

Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi has issued a seven-day public notice asking families, friends and other members of the public to help identify and collect 85 unclaimed bodies held at its Farewell Home. The hospital said that if the remains are not claimed within that period, it will seek court approval to dispose of them under Kenya’s Public Health Act and related mortuary rules, according to the Capital FM report republished by AllAfrica.

The list includes 67 men and 18 women, with KNH publishing names, tag numbers and descriptions to aid identification. Some bodies are named, while others are listed as unknown African men or women, and one entry is described as a street family. The report said the notice is meant to help relatives trace missing loved ones and to allow anyone with information to come forward before the deadline expires.

The appeal reflects a wider challenge for public mortuaries, where unclaimed remains can remain in storage for long periods. The article also noted that KNH made a similar seven-day appeal in March for 480 unclaimed bodies. By releasing the latest notice, the hospital is again trying to clear space while giving families one last opportunity to claim the deceased before any legal disposal process begins.