KNH Set to Bury 233 Unclaimed Bodies

Kenyatta National Hospital.
The Accident and Emergency entrance at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Kenyans.co.ke

217 children and 16 adults, whose bodies have been lying at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) mortuary for four months will be buried in a mass grave.

In a notice  released by KNH Chief Executive Evanson Kamuri, the region's leading referral facility will no longer hold the bodies.

According to the hospital, which is now overstretched, the bodies piled up from July 4 to August 30, with no one coming forth to claim them.

KNH Chief Executive Evanson Kamuri.
KNH Chief Executive Evanson Kamuri.
Kenyans.co.ke

“We want to create space for fresh bodies and cannot do this until the right procedure is followed. It is an ongoing process,” Dr Kamuri said. 

A 21-day notice has been given to relatives and friends to collect the bodies as authorities seek consent for burial in order to create room for more at the crowded mortuary. 

Most of the bodies were abandoned at newborn units, raising the question of whether this happened before or after the infants died. 

The hospital published the names when it became clear that no one was claiming the bodies.

The Public Health Act says an unclaimed body should be removed from a mortuary within two weeks or else it is disposed of in a mass grave after public officers obtain court's approval.

The hospital in the released notice informed the public that the list of the names is available at the KNH Farewell Home and can also be accessed through the institution’s website.

In September, the Nairobi County government buried 236 unclaimed bodies from various mortuaries.

Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital reported 18 bodies while the City mortuary had 218 bodies.

Located within Nairobi's Upper Hill Area, Kenyatta hospital serves millions of Kenyans from across the country.

During President Uhuru Kenyatta's reign, a number of hospitals across the country were revamped to ease the pressure on KNH.

A proposal by Senators to close Mama Lucy Hospital in Kayole rubbed The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) the wrong way, with the medics dismissing the plan.

Mama Lucy Hospital.
Mama Lucy Hospital.
Kenyans.co.ke
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