The Nairobi City County Health, Wellness, and Nutrition sector is calling on members of the public who have lost contact with loved ones or are unsure of their whereabouts to visit the Nairobi Funeral Home (formerly City Mortuary) and verify if their relatives are among the unclaimed bodies currently lying there.

Presently, the funeral home has exceeded its capacity, making it urgent for members of the public to identify the deceased with a view of freeing up space at the funeral home as the Nairobi City County seeks leave of court to dispose of the unclaimed bodies.

The Public Health Act cap 242, states that bodies must be stored for at least three months before leave of court can be obtained for their disposal. Following this period, a 14-day public notice is required before any further steps can be taken.

The County sought court orders on 20th September for the disposal of 107 unclaimed bodies lying at the facility. However, the court on the 2nd of October declined to issue the order of disposal stating that the Attorney General must be served and allowed to respond to the application due to several cases of extra-judicial killings.

The county has since served the AG’s office and the matter will be mentioned on the 15th of October 2024.

These circumstances have led to a delay in the disposal process, leaving the facility unable to accommodate more bodies. Presently, the facility holds over 600 bodies, while its capacity is just 184.

A mention at Milimani Court on October 15th, 2024, where the County is expected to seek a court order to dispose of bodies that have been unclaimed for several months. This will help ease the burden on the facility and open its doors to the public.

The public is urged to assist by identifying their loved ones, to alleviate the pressure being experienced at the funeral home.