A boda boda rider has filed a lawsuit against a hospital for detaining the body of his late wife over an unpaid medical bill amounting to Ksh2.6 million. The grieving husband moved to court on October 14, 2025, seeking an order compelling the hospital to release his wife’s body for burial, saying he cannot afford to pay the hefty amount.
According to court documents, the woman was admitted to the hospital on September 17, 2025, after suffering maternal complications that led to a stillbirth. Her condition deteriorated, forcing doctors to place her under intensive care. Unfortunately, she died on September 29, 2025, while receiving treatment.
The man narrated that his wife underwent an emergency caesarean section to remove the foetus and save her life after the doctors discovered the baby was not breathing. He said he did everything possible to cover the hospital expenses, paying Ksh450,000 during treatment and later raising another Ksh650,000 through friends and family.
Despite his efforts, the hospital retained his wife’s burial permit after the bill ballooned to Ksh2.6 million, and subsequently transferred her body to a funeral home with which it has an existing arrangement.
He told the court that he earns only Ksh25,000 per month and has a four-year-old son to care for, making it impossible to settle the outstanding balance.
Justice Nixon Sifuna ordered the man, through his lawyer, to serve the hospital with the application immediately. The court directed that all responses be filed within two days of October 14, and scheduled the hearing for October 22, 2025.
The case highlights the growing concern over hospital detentions of patients and bodies due to unpaid bills — a practice that continues to spark debate about ethics and compassion within Kenya’s healthcare system.
