KNH now demands Sh2m for release of Muslim unclaimed bodies

Kenyatta National Hospital is now demanding more than Sh2.1 million to release the bodies of four Muslims who are among 480 unclaimed bodies that the hospital had earmarked for disposal.

The national referral hospital says the amount is accrued from inpatient bills and mortuary fees for the period the deceased were admitted at the hospital and its mortuary facility.

The hospital’s demand came in response to a letter from Al Ameen Mosque requesting that the bodies be released and buried according to Islamic religious requirements.

Following a public notice announcing the disposal of the bodies, the mosque, through its CEO Ali Khalid, made a request to Kenyatta National Hospital to release the bodies of Hussein Ismail, who is 49 years old, and infants Zainab Waithera, Malik Muuo, and Baby Amir Hamza, who at the time of his death was 54 days old.

According to the hospital, Hussein Ismail has a total pending bill of Sh295,664; Zainab Waithera, Sh100,030; Malik Muuo, Sh1,164,541; and Amir Hamzah, Sh118,590.

“As Masjid Al Ameen Trust, an organization actively involved in community welfare and Islamic burial services, we hereby express our willingness and commitment to take full responsibility for the burials in accordance with Islamic rites and procedures,” said the mosque’s CEO, Ali Khalid.

“In Islam, it is a communal obligation to ensure that the deceased are accorded a dignified burial. It is therefore our humble request that the hospital facilitates the release so that we may carry out the necessary burial arrangements in line with religious requirements,” he added.

The hospital, however, maintains that the outstanding bills have to be cleared before the bodies are released. “Kindly settle the bill to facilitate the release of the unclaimed bodies,” said the acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, in a letter addressed to Masjid Al Ameen.

In a public notice issued on March 24, Kenyatta National Hospital gave a seven-day notice to families and members of the public to collect 480 unclaimed bodies currently held at its Farewell Home, warning that the remains would be disposed of within seven days if not identified and claimed.

“Interested members of the public are therefore requested to identify and collect the bodies within seven days, failing which the hospital will seek authority from the courts to dispose of them,” the notice stated.

Under the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules of 1991, 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.