KNH Upgrades Morgue With New Equipment In Major Overhaul Of Farewell Home

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has unveiled a comprehensive upgrade of its morgue, marking the completion of the first phase of its Farewell Home Upgrade Project.

The hospital says the improvements are part of an ongoing effort to modernise end-of-life services, enhance dignity for families, and provide a safer working environment for staff.

The launch, led by Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Lesiyampe, took place inside the KNH Funeral Home, where management and staff cut a ceremonial cake to symbolise what they described as a new beginning for a previously neglected department.

Hospital officials said the gesture was meant to highlight the facility’s improved hygiene standards and celebrate the milestone with the team responsible for the transformation.

Phase One introduced a series of structural and equipment improvements.

The autopsy theatre has been fully renovated and now features modern post-mortem tables built for higher precision and safety.

The hospital has also acquired new embalming machines, a hydraulic body lifter, and an array of updated tools meant to streamline post-mortem examinations.

A key part of the upgrade is the renovation of the body-washing area, which now caters to religious requirements such as Wudhu rites, thanks to support from the Muslim community.

Security and administrative systems have been modernised as well.

Twelve CCTV cameras have been installed across the Farewell Home to improve surveillance, while KNH has rolled out ICT upgrades to simplify billing, registration and payment processes.

The department also received a KSh200,000 donation from Matibabu Sacco to build a shelter for grieving families waiting to view or collect the bodies of loved ones.

Speaking during the launch, Dr Lesiyampe praised the Farewell Home team for their commitment and said the upgrades reflect KNH’s broader mission to provide compassionate and dignified care at every stage of life.

He said the project will give families using the facility a more respectful environment while ensuring staff have better tools and conditions to work effectively.

Dr Rose Nyabanda, Director of Diagnostic Services and Health Information, said the morgue had historically suffered from under-investment, leaving both staff and families to cope with an environment that “felt neglected.”

She noted that the new-look facility positions KNH to offer world-class post-mortem and funeral home services while generating additional revenue for the hospital.

The Head of the Farewell Home, Mr Kenneth Kimengich, lauded the management and partners for finally addressing long-standing gaps in the department.

He expressed hope that Phase Two—expected to incorporate expanded cold-room capacity and further improvements in family support areas—will begin soon.

Hospital officials reiterated that upgrading the Farewell Home is central to improving overall service quality at KNH, given the critical role the facility plays for thousands of families each year.

The refurbished morgue was officially declared ready for use at the end of the ceremony, signalling what KNH calls a significant step toward offering dignified, safe and modern end-of-life care.

Staff ended the event by sharing cake inside the morgue, a symbolic act they said was meant to demonstrate confidence in the facility’s cleanliness and high hygiene standards following the overhaul.