Kericho mass grave horror: 33 bodies unearthed amid stench of death
A grim discovery in Kericho County has shocked residents and triggered a major investigation after authorities exhumed 33 bodies from a suspected mass grave at Makaburini Cemetery.
Initially, the exercise, which commenced after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations secured a court order, targeted 14 bodies believed to have been interred at the site.
Shockingly, government pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge confirmed that 25 of the bodies are children while 8 are adults.
Autopsies on all the exhumed bodies are expected to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25, 2026 to determine the causes of death and aid in identifying the deceased.
The exhumation exercise, ordered by a court, followed complaints from locals about a strong, persistent stench emanating from a freshly dug section of the cemetery.
According to investigators, the smell raised alarm, prompting officials to dig up the site—only to uncover dozens of decomposing bodies packed in shallow graves.
Government pathologists, forensic experts and detectives were deployed to oversee the exercise, with authorities confirming that the remains included both adults and children.
Preliminary findings indicate the bodies had been buried at different times, suggesting the grave may have been used repeatedly over weeks.
A senior investigator involved in the probe described the scene as disturbing, noting that “the bodies were not buried in a dignified manner,” raising serious questions about how and why the burials were conducted.
Another official said the condition of the remains pointed to hurried interments, adding that some bodies appeared to have been transported from outside the county.
Authorities are now trying to establish the identities of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Officials from the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and activists were present during the exercise, calling for a thorough and transparent investigation.
“Lazima ukweli uweze kujulikana hawa ni kina nani waliozikwa hapa, walizikwa hapa kwa sababu gani na hawa wenyewe walikufa vipi,” said Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Vocal Africa.
Samples have been collected for DNA analysis, while postmortems are expected to provide crucial clues on possible causes of death.
Reports indicate that some of the bodies may have originated from health facilities in neighboring counties, with claims that they were transferred under unclear arrangements before being buried in Kericho.
This has raised concerns over potential breaches of public health procedures and legal requirements governing the handling of human remains.
Residents expressed outrage and fear following the discovery, with one local saying the situation was “deeply unsettling” and demanded answers from authorities.
Civil society groups have also called for a transparent investigation, warning that the incident points to possible systemic failures in oversight.
Police have since launched a full-scale probe, with several individuals—including cemetery staff and health officials—expected to record statements.
Investigators say they are pursuing leads on who authorized the burials and whether any criminal liability may arise.
