Hellena Kigetu Ntwomo, an 80‑year‑old resident of Miruriine village in Meru county, has asked Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) to release her son’s body for burial after it has remained in the mortuary for more than a month.

Her son, Benjamin Ntombura, 52, died on 9 August 2026 while receiving intensive care at the hospital, after a week of treatment in the ICU.

The family owes the hospital roughly Sh500,000 in medical and morgue fees, a sum they say they cannot fully raise, having collected only about Sh100,000 so far.

Hospital management reportedly requires the family to settle 75 percent of the bill and provide a title deed as collateral before the body can be released.

Background on the patient’s medical journey

Benjamin Ntombura had been ill for three years, receiving treatment at Kiirua Mission Hospital, Nairobi West Hospital, and Nkubu Consolata Mission Hospital before being referred to KUTRRH for specialized care.

The family’s repeated hospital visits have strained their finances, leaving them unable to meet the current hospital demands.

Emotional and financial toll on the family

The prolonged waiting period has worsened the widow’s health, with reports of sleeplessness, loss of appetite and constant crying.

Daily interest of Sh1,000 is added to the outstanding balance, further compounding the family’s difficulty in raising funds.

Appeal for assistance and possible avenues

James Gikundi, the deceased’s elder brother, has appealed to well‑wishers, political leaders and the public for contributions, providing an M‑Pesa number for donations.

The family continues to seek a waiver of the remaining fees on humanitarian grounds, hoping the hospital will reconsider its conditions.