Authorities in Kericho County have recovered 33 human bodies from a cemetery, uncovering a much larger number than initially reported. Officials had previously stated that 14 bodies were buried at the site, but the latest exhumation revealed 33 remains, including 25 children.
The findings have prompted a multi-agency investigation into the circumstances surrounding the burials.
“Recent findings at Kericho Cemetery have revealed the presence of multiple human remains under circumstances suggesting varied timelines and possible external sources,” officials said on Tuesday.
The bodies were discovered in different stages of decomposition, suggesting they were buried at separate times rather than in a single event. Some preliminary assessments indicate that a few of the remains may have come from mortuaries, though this is still under review.
Six additional body parts, comprising both upper and lower limbs, were also recovered during the exercise.
The exhumation was supervised by the Director of Homicide, Martin Nyuguto, alongside a government pathologist representing Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor.
The recovered remains were transported to a mortuary to allow pathologists and forensic experts to carry out detailed examinations.
Initial reports indicate that eight of the bodies are adults, while the majority—25—are children. Investigators are working to determine the cause and manner of death, as well as to identify the victims.
Authorities also aim to establish whether any criminal activity may have taken place beyond irregularities in the burial process.
The process follows court proceedings on March 23, 2026, when two suspects were presented before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kericho. Through a Miscellaneous Application, authorities requested custodial orders for the suspects and permission to exhume the bodies.
The court approved the application, granting law enforcement a 30-day window to complete the exhumations and forensic examinations.
Investigators continue to piece together the full story behind the cemetery burials. Once identified, the families of the deceased will be notified, and further inquiries will determine how and why the remains were deposited at the site.