The Nairobi County Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum for the public to claim unidentified bodies that have overstayed in the city’s morgues. Failure to do so will result in their disposal upon authorization, as per the Public Health Act Cap 242.
According to a notice by County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, there are currently:
- 238 unclaimed bodies at Nairobi City Funeral Home (City Mortuary)
- 62 bodies at Mama Lucy Kibaki Funeral Home
- 55 bodies at Mbagathi Funeral Home
The county has urged families to visit these facilities immediately to identify and collect their loved ones.
Rising Concern Over Unclaimed Bodies
Public health officials have raised concerns about the increasing number of unclaimed corpses, with causes of death linked to accidents, suicide, mob justice, drowning, homicide, and natural causes.
Historical data reveals a growing crisis, with City Mortuary disposing of 2,500 unclaimed bodies between 2003 and 2006, while Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Mortuary handled 3,000 in the same period. The issue has also led to millions in lost revenue for public mortuaries due to unpaid storage fees.
This latest directive underscores the urgent need for families to reclaim their deceased relatives before the county proceeds with mass disposal.
