Njeri Maina pushes bill to end hospital detention of bodies over unpaid bills
Kirinyaga Women Representative Jane Njeri Maina has introduced a bill in parliament seeking to outlaw the detention of deceased bodies by hospitals due to unpaid medical bills.
The proposed law by the Health Amendment Bill, Bill no.56 of 2024, was read for the first time in the National Assembly on Wednesday ,4th June 2025.
In a statement she posted on her official X account ,Njeri Maina confirmed the progress of the bill stating: “The Health Amendment Bill, Bill No.56 of 2024,has finally been read for the first time .”
“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.
If passed, the legislation will make it a criminal offense for medical institution to withhold the bodies of deceased patients over financial disputes, ensuring dignity for he deceased and their families.
Christine Muchira
Christine Muchira is a journalist and storyteller with a passion for data-driven reporting and impactful human-interest narratives. I hold a postgraduate degree in International Studies and an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Media Studies both from the University of Nairobi, bringing a strong global perspective to her work while remaining deeply rooted in local community stories.
