Race against time as 47 bodies lie unclaimed in Kisumu hospital mortuary

Families with missing loved ones have been urged to urgently visit the mortuary at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital following a public notice on 47 unclaimed bodies.

The hospital announced that some of the bodies have remained at the facility for more than three months.

According to the notice, the bodies include 32 male adults, among them two children, one aged two years, 13 foetuses, one female adult, and unidentified human remains consisting of a skull.

Hospital management said the bodies are now due for disposal in line with public health regulations if they remain unclaimed.

Records show they were collected from various parts of Kisumu county and its surrounding areas.

Some cases originated within JOOTRH itself, including the casualty department, newborn unit, Ward 3A and Ward 7.

Others were recovered from public spaces such as Kisumu Stadium, Kisumu Bus Terminus, and different neighbourhoods, including Nyalenda, Obunga, Manyatta and Lolwe.

Additional recoveries were reported in areas such as Otonglo Village, Daraja Mbili, Nyawita dumpsite, Kibos (including the irrigation area and Kibos River), Usoma, Kanyakwar, Holo, and the Central Business District, among others.

According to a statement, the hospital indicated that the causes of death vary widely.

Some cases involve sudden deaths, drowning incidents, mob injustice and road accidents, including hit-and-run cases.

The foetuses are linked to abortion cases, while several deaths remain unexplained or lack documented causes.

A number of the cases were reported through police stations, including Kisumu Central, Kondele, Obunga, Kasagam, Migosi/Gita, Maseno, Kogony and Directorate of Criminal Investigations Bondo.

However, some bodies have no police records attached to them.

Members of the public, who may have lost relatives, have been asked to visit the JOOTRH mortuary to help identify the bodies.

The exercise will run for 21 days, from March 30 to April 24, 2026, between 9am and 5pm.

The hospital warned that failure to identify and claim the bodies within the stipulated period will leave it with no option but to proceed with disposal as required by law.

JOOTRH has appealed for cooperation from the public, emphasising the importance of giving the deceased a dignified send-off and offering closure to affected families.