Narok County Referral Hospital has issued a public notice urging families to collect nine unclaimed bodies lying at its Farewell Home within the next 14 days. The notice, released on Sunday, August 24, cautioned that the hospital will proceed with disposal in accordance with the Public Health Act, Cap 242, and the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules of 1991, should the bodies remain unclaimed.
Relatives and next of kin have been advised to reach out to the hospital’s public health office for further details and identification procedures. The hospital emphasized that before any disposal is carried out, authorization will be sought from the courts as required by law.
“The general public is hereby notified of Nine (9) unclaimed bodies lying at the Farewell Home. Relatives are requested to identify and collect the bodies within fourteen (14) days from the date hereof,” the statement read.
Under Kenyan law, bodies cannot remain in a mortuary for more than 10 days without being claimed. In situations where a body remains unclaimed for 21 days, the authorities are obligated to obtain a court order for disposal. The rules further stipulate that a public notice period of 14 days must be given to allow time for families to trace their loved ones.
The hospital explained that disposal of unclaimed bodies is not only a legal obligation but also a practical measure to manage space in public mortuaries. Typically, such bodies are interred in public cemeteries or communal graves, often without formal funeral rites.
This latest announcement echoes a similar notice issued recently by Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). On May 3, KNH disclosed plans to dispose of 124 unclaimed bodies lying at its farewell home, of which 100 were children and 24 adults. Like Narok Hospital, KNH underscored its adherence to the Public Health Act and gave families seven days to claim the bodies before seeking court approval for disposal.
Public health officials continue to appeal to families to check with hospitals in cases of missing relatives, warning that delays not only cause distress but also create pressure on limited mortuary facilities.
