Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) intends to dispose of 203 unclaimed bodies if they are not identified by family members within the next seven days.
The referral hospital stated in a gazette notice on Tuesday that it is in possession of a number of unclaimed bodies at its Farewell Home and will seek court permission to dispose of them within seven days.
Speaking in an interview, a source from the facility stated that the high number of children deaths are caused by a variety of factors, including numerous stillbirths, miscarriages, abortion cases, and parents abandoning their babies in the hospital.
The source added that the likely causes for parents to abandon their young ones are depression and financial constraints.
If families do not come forward to claim their loved ones’ bodies, the hospital will be forced to seek permission to dispose of the bodies through a legal process.
In November 2022, KNH disposed of another 233 unclaimed bodies as the facility sought to create more space at its crowded morgue.
Bodies should only stay in the hospital for two weeks and if unclaimed it should be removed from the mortuary, according to the Public Health Act.
Contrary to that, it should be buried in a mass grave after public officers obtain permission from a court.