Head Trauma, Neglect Uncovered in Autopsies of Kericho Victims

Thirty-three bodies have been exhumed from a mass grave at Makaburini cemetery in Kericho, with forensic findings indicating possible foul play, including head injuries in several victims, among them children.

The discovery has led to an expanded criminal investigation, with significant discrepancies emerging between official records and the number of bodies recovered. Authorities in Nyamira County had reported that 13 or 14 unclaimed bodies were to be buried. However, forensic teams uncovered 33 bodies along with six amputated limbs, all interred without clear documentation.

Government pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge, speaking at Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary, stated that the causes of death varied. These included choking, pneumonia, severe infections, blood clots, and head injuries. He clarified that the amputated limbs were surgical specimens, not evidence of mutilation.

However, he emphasised that skull fractures identified in several children required urgent investigation. He also noted that the law requires all bodies to be handled with dignity and in accordance with the Births and Deaths Registration Act

Concerns have also been raised about how the bodies were transported. Investigators found that they had been placed in gunny bags and moved from Nyamira to Kericho. Legal experts argue that this process did not meet statutory requirements, which include proper registration of deaths and authorised burial permits.

The lack of transparency has prompted investigators to consider several possibilities, including criminal activity linked to unlawful killings or other offences.
Forensic analysis showed that nine of the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, while others were more recent. This suggests that the burials took place over different periods.

Of the 25 children recovered, 10 were identified as girls, eight as boys, and seven could not be identified due to decomposition. No relatives have yet come forward to claim the bodies.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations, working with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, has begun DNA and toxicology testing to determine the identities of the victims and establish the causes of death. Two individuals, Nyamira Public Health Officer David Araka Makori and cemetery caretaker Richard Towett, have been detained for 30 days to allow further inquiries.

Investigators are also reviewing the validity of the documents used to authorise the burials, which appear inconsistent with the number of bodies found.