The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has revealed serious mortuary and documentation lapses at Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary, with most of the bodies recovered from a mass grave at a Kericho cemetery lacking proper identification and hospital records.
The discovery has led to the arrest of six suspects, including hospital officials and a cemetery caretaker, ahead of a court arraignment scheduled for April 23, 2026.
In a statement on Tuesday, DCI boss Mohammed Amin highlighted the gravity of the findings, noting that several irregularities in mortuary tagging and documentation were observed. He said the majority of the 39 remains — 33 bodies and six body parts — lacked standard official tags, and none had proper hospital identification or documentation.
Investigators noted that hospital records indicate 46 infants or fetuses may have died at the facility and were reportedly taken to the cemetery, yet mortuary records do not account for their discharge.
Amin emphasized that these gaps point to serious lapses in mortuary protocols, documentation, and oversight at the facility, as well as irregularities in the burial process at the cemetery owned by the National Council of Churches of Kenya.
The investigation has traced all the remains recovered from the mass grave back to the hospital, a fact acknowledged by the facility’s management.
According to Amin, footage shows that on March 19, 2026, four bags were loaded into a white Toyota Land Cruiser by the hospital’s chief mortician under the supervision of a public health officer. The vehicle has since been impounded and is in police custody.
The DCI said DNA and toxicology samples have been submitted to the government chemist for forensic analysis, while efforts are ongoing to trace the parents of the deceased and collect reference DNA samples.
“We are also pursuing forensic document analysis, authentication of hospital records, and outstanding administrative records to ensure accountability,” Amin said.
Six suspects have been arrested so far. Three were released after interrogation, while three remain in custody under court orders.
Amin stressed that the investigation is focused on negligence, accountability, and adherence to legal protocols under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the Penal Code, and the Public Health Act—not mass murder.
He added that once investigations are complete, the matter will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action.