The Narok County Teaching and Referral Hospital (NCRH) has issued a public notice announcing its intention to dispose of nine (9) unclaimed bodies lying at its Farewell Home.
In the notice dated Saturday, August 23, the facility gave families and representatives 14 days to identify and claim the remains. Failure to do so will force the hospital to seek a court order to proceed with disposal in line with the Public Health Act, Cap 242.
“Narok County Referral Hospital hereby notifies the general public of nine unclaimed bodies lying at its Farewell Home. Pursuant to the Public Health Act Cap 242 and the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules, 1991, relatives are requested to identify and collect the bodies within fourteen (14) days from the date hereof. Failure to which the hospital will seek authority from the court to dispose them,” the notice read.
The hospital cited limited space in its mortuary as the reason for the directive. Unclaimed bodies that remain for extended periods create logistical challenges and pose a public health risk.
Legal Framework
Under the Public Health Act, no body should remain in a public mortuary beyond 10 days without being claimed. If unclaimed for 21 days, hospitals must issue a 14-day notice to the public before seeking court authorization for disposal.
Not an Isolated Case
This comes months after Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) issued a similar notice, revealing plans to dispose of 124 unclaimed bodies after giving families a one-week deadline.
Typically, unclaimed bodies are interred in public cemeteries or mass graves, often without traditional rites.
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