Nairobi County issues seven-day notice for 473 unclaimed bodies at City Mortuary
Nairobi County issues seven-day notice for 473 unclaimed bodies at City Mortuary
Nairobi City County has issued a seven-day notice for the public to identify and collect 473 unclaimed bodies lying at the Nairobi Funeral Home, formerly known as Nairobi City Mortuary.
In a public notice issued by the County Health, Nutrition and Wellness department, the county said the bodies had remained at the facility since their dates of admission while awaiting collection.
The county is asking relatives, friends and other interested members of the public to check the list and identify any of the bodies.
The notice was issued pursuant to the Public Health Act, Cap 242, and the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules, 1991.
Nairobi City County warned that failure to identify and collect the bodies within seven days would result in the county seeking authority for their disposal.
The list, dated March 18, 2026, contains a total of 473 bodies.
“The following 473 unclaimed bodies are lying at the Nairobi Funeral Home (formerly Nairobi City Mortuary) from the date of admission awaiting collection. Pursuant to Public Health Act Cap 242 [Subsidiary; PUBLIC HEALTH (PUBLIC MORTUARIES) RULES, 1991) (2), interested members of the public are asked to identify and collect the below-named bodies within 7 days, failure to which the Nairobi City County will seek disposal authority,” the notice read.
The manner of deaths included natural, sudden, accident, suspected murder, drowning, mob injustice, and unknown, among others.
In March, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) issued a public notice calling on families and members of the public to collect 480 unclaimed bodies held at its Farewell Home.
KNH warned that the remains will be disposed of within seven days if not identified and claimed.
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In the notice published on March 24, the hospital said the unclaimed bodies comprise 102 adults and 378 children.
KNH management urged relatives and guardians to promptly identify and collect the bodies to avoid their disposal in accordance with the law.
“Interested members of the public are therefore requested to identify and collect the bodies within seven days; failure to which the hospital seeking authority from the courts to dispose of them,” the notice stated.
Under the law, hospitals are permitted to dispose of bodies that remain unclaimed for extended periods, typically between 21 days and three months, after issuing a public notice and obtaining a court order.
The move underscores the persistent challenge of overcrowding in public mortuaries, with unclaimed bodies occupying valuable space and straining resources.
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