Kericho mass grave: LSK demands swift identification of 33 exhumed bodies

In a statement shared on her X account on Wednesday morning, Odhiambo urged urgent action, stressing that the victims must be identified and accorded dignity in death.

“Identification of these victims must be done as soon as possible,” she said.

Her remarks come a day after a multi-agency team uncovered the bodies during an exhumation exercise whose circumstances remain unclear, raising concerns and questions over the nature of the burials.

Government pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge confirmed that 25 of the bodies are children while eight are adults. The operation followed a court order secured by homicide detectives after the discovery of the concealed gravesite.

Initial reports had indicated that 14 bodies were buried at the site last Friday. However, the latest findings significantly revised the figure to 33, deepening the mystery surrounding the case.

The exhumation, conducted under the supervision of Director of Homicide Martin Nyuguto and a government pathologist representing Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, turned the cemetery into an active crime scene.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who had camped at the site, carried out the day-long exercise amid heavy rains, concluding at around 6pm.

With the exhumation complete, focus has now shifted to post-mortem examinations expected to begin on Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

Officials from the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and human rights activists were present during the exercise, calling for a thorough and transparent probe.

Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Vocal Africa, emphasized the need for clarity on the identities of the deceased, the circumstances of their deaths, and the reasons behind their burial at the site.

Tony Were also urged the government to act swiftly in handling cases involving mysterious deaths or unclaimed bodies in a professional manner.

Activists are now pushing for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to conduct parallel investigations to ensure accountability if foul play is established.

Local leaders echoed similar concerns, calling on both county and national governments to explain who the deceased were, how they ended up at the cemetery, and why there was no public communication.

Preliminary reports indicate that Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital had obtained a court order to dispose of 13 unclaimed bodies at a public cemetery in Kericho County.

However, the discovery of 33 bodies has raised fresh questions over the additional 20 bodies, the manner of their burial, and the apparent lack of public oversight.

Two suspects — David Araka Makori, the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, and Richard Towet — are in police custody following their arrest by detectives.

On Monday, a court granted police 30 days to detain the two as investigations continue.