The episode begins in an abortion clinic, a woman is giving her permission for scientists to use her dead fetus for stem cell research.
Then Cartman goes to the government court and gives a very thoughtful speech to the House of Representatives, requesting that the SCR ban be lifted, explaining about his best friend, Kenny, who is slowly dying as they speak.
He also finds out that Stem Cell Research has been made legal again, and with the hope that a cure might be found, rushes to visit Kenny.
As the funeral takes place, though, Cartman comes rushing in and drags Stan and Kyle out of the ceremony, explaining that they have to see the "miracle" that has just occurred.
The boys are shocked and disgusted to see that, instead of using the stem cells to save Kenny, Cartman only wanted them so he could duplicate a Shakey's Pizza.
[3] Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times cited the episode when noting that the political commentary on South Park, like The Simpsons and Freak Show, was genuinely "provocative" satire, unlike the "safer ... mainstream iconoclasm" of Saturday Night Live.
[4] "Kenny Dies", along with the thirteen other episodes from South Park: the Complete Fifth Season, was released on a three-disc DVD set in the United States on February 22, 2005.