Kirinyaga Woman Representative Jane Njeri Maina has introduced a bill in the National Assembly seeking to outlaw the detention of deceased bodies by hospitals due to unpaid medical bills.
The proposed legislation, titled The Health Amendment Bill, Bill No. 56 of 2024, was read for the first time on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
If enacted, the bill will make it a criminal offense for any medical institution to withhold a deceased person’s body over financial disputes.
In a statement shared on her official X account, Njeri Maina confirmed the bill’s progress:
“The Health Amendment Bill, Bill No. 56 of 2024, has finally been read for the first time,” she wrote.
“As the sponsor of the bill, I’m seeking to criminalize the detention of dead bodies by hospitals due to non-payment of accrued medical bills in instances where the families are unable to pay,” she added.
The lawmaker emphasized that the proposed amendment seeks to uphold the dignity of the deceased and protect grieving families from further distress during times of loss.
The bill has sparked conversation both in Parliament and among the public, with many expressing support for the move as a step toward promoting compassion and human rights in Kenya’s healthcare system.
If passed into law, hospitals and healthcare facilities will be legally barred from holding onto bodies over unpaid fees, and violations could attract criminal penalties.
