Nairobi County issues 7-day notice for collection of 185 unclaimed bodies

Residents in Nairobi have been given seven days to identify bodies of their loved ones lying uncollected at three mortuaries in the city.

In a notice, the Nairobi City County said 130 unclaimed bodies are lying at City Mortuary, 38 at Mbagathi Hospital Funeral Home and 17 at Mama Lucy Kibaki Funeral Home.

The unclaimed bodies have accumulated in the mortuaries between September 2021 and December 2023, with their registrations stemming from multiple police stations.

“Pursuant to Public Health Act Cap 242 [Subsidiary: PUBLIC HEALTH (PUBLIC MORTUARIES) RULES, 19911 (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 authority for disposal,” the public notice read.

Acting County Secretary and Head of County Public Service Patrick Analo said most of the bodies are those of victims of murder, accidents or natural causes.

He also appealed to members of the public to identify the bodies within the stated period, failure to which will compel the Nairobi City Council to seek authorization for their disposal.