A shocking discovery at Makaburini Cemetery in Kericho County has left authorities and residents alarmed after a suspected mass grave containing 33 bodies was exhumed.
The exhumation, conducted by a multi-agency team including homicide detectives and forensic experts, revealed 25 children and eight adults buried in secrecy. Officials said the operation followed a court order after the grave was brought to light.
Initially, authorities believed only 14 bodies had been buried, but the latest findings revealed a far larger number, prompting questions about how and why the burials were conducted without public knowledge.
The exercise, carried out under heavy rain, was supervised by homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and government pathologists. With the exhumation complete, post-mortem examinations are scheduled to determine the causes of death and whether foul play was involved.
Human rights groups and activists who monitored the process called for a transparent investigation, emphasizing the need to identify the deceased and understand the circumstances of their deaths. Local leaders also demanded accountability from both county and national governments for the lack of communication regarding the burials.
Two individuals, including the Medical Superintendent of Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital, have been arrested in connection with the case and are in custody as investigations continue. Authorities have been given 30 days to further probe the matter.
This discovery has sparked widespread concern in Kericho and Western Kenya, highlighting the urgent need for stricter oversight of cemeteries and proper handling of unclaimed bodies.
