JOOTRH issues 21-day notice over 47 unclaimed bodies at Kisumu mortuary
By Emmanuel Rono, March 25, 2026The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has issued a public notice calling on families to identify and claim 47 bodies lying unclaimed at its mortuary.
In the notice on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the hospital said the bodies have remained uncollected for more than three months and are now set for disposal in line with public health regulations if not claimed within 21 days.
According to JOOTRH, the unclaimed remains include 32 male adults, among them two children, one aged two years, 13 foetuses, one female adult, and a skull classified as unidentified human remains.
“Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) wishes to notify members of the public that there are currently forty-seven (47) unclaimed bodies lying at the hospital mortuary. Of these: 32 are male adults, including 2 children, with one aged 2 years, 13 are foetuses, one is a female adult, and one is a skull (unidentified human remains) ,” the notice read.
Locations where bodies were recovered
The hospital went on to outline where most of the bodies were recovered from various locations across Kisumu County and surrounding areas.
These include the hospital’s own units such as the casualty department, newborn unit, Ward 3A and Ward 7, as well as public places like Kisumu Stadium, Kisumu Bus Terminus, and several residential areas including Nyalenda, Obunga, Manyatta and Kanyakwar.
Other recovery sites listed include Otonglo Village, Daraja Mbili, the World Vision area, Nyawita dumpsite, Kibos covering Kibos Farm, irrigation zones, and the river alongside Usoma, Holo, Kapuonja, Kasawino, Arina, and Lolwe, among others.
Identification dates
Members of the public with missing relatives have been urged to visit the JOOTRH mortuary for identification between March 30 and April 24, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The hospital management has urged members of them to visit the mortuary within the specified timeframe to assist in identification.
“Members of the public who may have missing relatives or loved ones are urged to visit the JOOTRH mortuary to assist in identification within twenty-one (21) days, from 30th March 2026 to 24th April 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m,” the statement noted.
JOOTRH warned of the consequences should the bodies remain unclaimed after the deadline. Failure to claim the bodies within the stipulated period will necessitate their disposal in accordance with public health regulations.
JOOTRH appeals for cooperation from the public to ensure that families are given an opportunity to identify and accord their loved ones a dignified send-off.
“Failure to claim the bodies within the stipulated period will necessitate their disposal in accordance with public health regulations,” the statement said.
KNH on 480 unclaimed bodies
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) also issued a public notice urging families to claim 480 unclaimed bodies currently held at its Farewell Home, warning that the remains will be disposed of within seven days if not identified.
In the notice published on its website on March 24, 2026, the hospital said the bodies comprise 102 adults and 378 children, highlighting the urgency of the appeal to the public.
The management urged relatives and guardians to come forward promptly to identify and collect the bodies to avoid their disposal in accordance with the law.