An unknown man whose body has lain unclaimed in a hospital mortuary in Bondo sub county for over a decade is among five bodies set for mass disposal by the Siaya County Health Department.

The body of the adult male was brought to the Got Agulu Hospital Mortuary by police officers on February 23, 2016.

Ten years later, no family member has come forward to claim him.

Faced with a mounting backlog, the county government has now issued a strict 21-day ultimatum to the families of the deceased to collect their relatives’ remains. Should they fail to do so, public health officials will move to court to seek authority for a public disposal.

In total, the facility is holding five unclaimed bodies, three adult males and two infant males, all brought to the mortuary by police officers on various dates.

Among them is an infant male admitted on September 14, 2023, and the most recent case, an adult male brought in on February 27, 2026.

Others are also unknown brought by police officers; May 30, 2024 infant male body while other were brought on May 25, 2025.

According to a public notice signed by Elizabeth Olang’o, the Sub-County Public Health Officer, the hospital is taking legal action to mitigate health risks.

“To prevent a public health nuisance, the hospital hereby requires the families of the unclaimed bodies to claim the remains for burial within 21 days,” the notice read. “Failure to which, Got Agulu Sub-County Hospital, through the Public Health Officer, shall seek court authority to dispose of the bodies in the Siaya Public Cemetery.”