Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has issued a stark ultimatum to the public, announcing its intention to dispose of 541 unclaimed bodies currently housed at its facility.
The hospital, through a public notice has given relatives a seven-day window to identify and claim the bodies, failing which they will be laid to rest, potentially in mass graves.
The distressing revelation includes over 475 deceased infants and 66 adults, whose identities remain unknown or unclaimed.
Among the adults, seven are female, while the rest are male, according to KNH’s public notice.
In compliance with the Public Health Act Cap 242 Subsidiary legislation Public Health Public Mortuaries rules, 1991, KNH has made it clear that it will proceed with the disposal if no action is taken within the stipulated timeframe.
The hospital emphasized that it is following legal protocols and will seek authorization from the courts for the disposal if necessary.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that children constitute the majority of the unclaimed bodies, as highlighted by the released list by KNH.
The urgency of the matter is further reinforced by the Public Health Act, which mandates the removal of unclaimed bodies from mortuaries within two weeks, failing which they must be interred in mass graves under court approval.
To facilitate the identification process, KNH has made the list of names available at its Farewell Home and on its official website, urging concerned parties to come forward and claim the bodies of their loved ones before it’s too late.
