The circumstances surrounding the alleged secret burial of 14 bodies at a cemetery in Kericho town have deepened, as it has emerged that the facility’s owners, local administrators, police, and county government were all unaware of the incident.
Questions have been raised about how the bodies were transported from Nyamira County reportedly under court-sanctioned disposal orders without the knowledge of relevant government agencies and subsequently buried in Kericho.
It has also emerged that three youths who were hired to offload and bury the bodies were paid Sh1,000 each.
“We were paid Sh1,000 to dig the grave and another Sh1,000 to offload the bodies and bury them. We had no other responsibility,” one of the youths said.
He added that they had been warned by security officers against speaking to the media.
Reports further indicate that more than 60 bodies from Nyamira may have been secretly buried at the same facility without the knowledge of local authorities.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), which owns the cemetery in central Kericho town, stated that no permission had been sought before the burials.
Mr Fredrick Odhiambo, Head of the Rapid Response Program at Vocal Africa, a non-governmental organistion, claimed that nearly 70 bodies could have been secretly buried at the cemetery in recent months.
“This is a serious matter. The Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) owe Kenyans an explanation. Thorough investigations must be conducted and action taken against those responsible,” Mr. Odhiambo added.
The discovery has also raised concerns about possible extrajudicial killings, with reports of people going missing and later turning up dead in mortuaries across the country.
On Sunday, Director of Homicide at the DCI Martin Nyuguto took charge of the site, which has been cordoned off and guarded by armed police as authorities seek court orders for exhumation, despite it being a weekend.
Accompanied by Kericho County Police Commander Kivinda Kilonzo, Mr Nyuguto urged residents to remain patient as the matter is handled professionally and within the law.
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Kericho also clarified that it had not been informed about the use of the cemetery for a mass burial.
Kibe Maguta, the Kericho East (Ainamoi), Deputy County Commissioner, addressing members of the public at Makaburini cemetery in Kericho town, on March 22, 2026, where 14 bodies are said to have been secretly buried on Thursday, and the matter came to light on Saturday. Mr Maguta said the bodies were brought from Nyamira County.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation
He explained that standard procedure requires individuals seeking burial space to contact the administration and provide documentation, including a burial permit,steps that were not followed in this case.
Kericho Governor Erick Mutai confirmed that his administration had no agreement with any neighbouring county to bury bodies locally.
He added that once exhumed, the bodies would be preserved at Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary to prevent tampering or removal during investigations.
Due to the high public interest, Dr Mutai said that the exhumation should be conducted in daylight and in the presence of the public and stakeholders.
He also urged residents to be cautious amid rising cases of cult-related activities.
Last evening, health officials in Nyamira County confirmed that 13 unclaimed bodies had recently been transported for burial in Kericho, although it is unclear whether they are part of the 14 discovered.
A public notice issued on February 10, 2026, by Mr David Araka on behalf of the Medical Superintendent of Nyamira County Referral Hospital Mortuary, had alerted the public about unclaimed bodies.
The notice urged families to identify them within 14 days, failing which they would be disposed of due to congestion.
The notice was reaffirmed on February 16 before the bodies were disposed of on Thursday.
Among the deceased was Collins Sirinji Mahunya, whose body had been at the mortuary since November 2024 after being found in an advanced state of decomposition. Others included unidentified adult males, a one-year-old child, abandoned stillborn twins and featuses recovered by police.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall dispersed residents who had gathered at the scene, although police continued guarding the site pending exhumation orders.
Kapsoit MCA Paul Chirchir, the only elected leader present at the scene, demanded answers.
“Residents deserve to know where these bodies came from, who transported them, and how they were buried here without authorities’ knowledge,” he said.
It also emerged that the vehicle used had government registration but was partially concealed, while those involved wore masks.
“We are worried this could involve extrajudicial killings, with bodies dumped far from victims’ homes,” said Peter Oyoo.
Another resident, Beatrice Chebet, urged the government to act swiftly.
Police officers continue to guard the site as hundreds of residents gathered, while homicide detectives oversee the unfolding investigation.
Heavy rainfall in the evening dispersed members of the public who had camped at the scene from morning with the numbers building up in the afternoon.
But police officers remained at the scene and are expected to guard the grave until Monday morning when orders are sought from the courts for exhumation.
