Kenya Investigates Shocking Mass Grave of 32 Bodies Mostly Infants in Kericho County

Kenyan Authorities exhumed approximately 32 bodies, including 25 children and 7 adults in Kericho county after initially securing a court order to retrieve 14 remains.

Government pathologist Richard Njoroge described the findings as “quite unusual,” noting bodies were “stacked in gunny bags” during the recovery operation.

The process unfolded over a full day and was disrupted by heavy rains, with forensic teams working under tight security. Some remains were intact, while others consisted of partial bones and body parts.

Initial findings from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) indicated that 13 unclaimed bodies had been officially released from a hospital in Nyamira and transported for burial the previous Friday. The presence of 32 bodies raises questions about additional, undocumented transfers.

Njoroge said adult remains were highly decomposed, while those of infants and fetuses were less so, suggesting deaths occurred at different times.

Investigators are examining whether some bodies originated from hospitals or mortuaries. The burial site, linked to land owned by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), has become a focal point, with the organization denying authorization.

Officials said the burial “was conducted without their approval,” according to statements cited by local media.

Two suspects, a public health officer and a cemetery caretaker, have been arrested, with others under questioning.

Witnesses described tightly controlled operations at the site, with bodies placed in evidence bags as residents gathered nearby. The discovery followed a whistleblower tip that triggered the investigation.

Human rights group Vocal Africa called the case a “staggering and horrific escalation,” citing reports of mutilation and dismemberment.

The case echoes Kenya’s 2023 Shakahola tragedy, where 429 bodies were uncovered in mass graves linked to a cult. That incident heightened scrutiny of burial practices and institutional oversight.

Calls for rapid identification have intensified, with legal figures urging swift forensic analysis and accountability as post-mortem examinations begin.