Kericho Cemetery Probe: 33 Bodies Exhumed as DCI Investigates Burial Records
By Kelvin Kibet | Updated October 1, 2026
Investigations into the burial of multiple bodies at Makaburini Cemetery in Kericho developed significantly after the first police reports in March. What initially began as an inquiry into a suspected mass grave later led to the exhumation of 33 bodies under a court order.
How the case started
Police opened the investigation after a member of the public reported a freshly dug grave at the cemetery. Two casual workers told investigators that they had been hired to dig a large grave and had seen a number of bodies delivered in body bags.
At that early stage, authorities stressed that the allegations had not yet been verified. The scene was secured, witness statements were recorded and detectives sought a court order to allow a lawful exhumation and forensic examination.
Exhumation changed the picture
The subsequent exhumation recovered 33 bodies. Government pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge was reported as saying that 25 were children and eight were adults. The number was substantially higher than the 13 bodies that Nyamira County officials later said had been approved for transfer and burial.
That discrepancy became a central question for investigators. DCI officials said the bodies originated from Nyamira County Referral Hospital, while detectives continued examining records, transport arrangements, burial authorisations and the circumstances in which the remains were interred in Kericho.
What investigators were trying to establish
The inquiry focused on whether the transfer and burial of the bodies complied with the law, whether the court documents used in the process were valid, and why the number of exhumed bodies did not match the number said to have been authorised for disposal.
Six suspects were later reported arrested as the investigation widened. Other people were questioned and released but remained persons of interest. At that point, investigators had not publicly announced a final finding establishing criminal responsibility for the deaths themselves.
What is confirmed and what remains unresolved
It is confirmed that a court-authorised exhumation took place and that 33 bodies were recovered. It is also confirmed that investigators were examining inconsistencies in documentation and the handling of the remains. What had not been conclusively established was whether the bodies were linked to a wider homicide case or whether the principal issue was an unlawful or irregular burial process.
Because the case attracted widespread speculation on social media, readers should distinguish between verified statements from investigators and unproven claims about the origin or cause of death of the people whose remains were recovered.
