Kericho mass grave: Two arrested as DCI gets order to exhume bodies

Two people have been arrested in connection with the secret burial of 14 bodies at Makaburini Cemetery in Kericho town, as investigators move to unravel a case that has sparked national concern.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have secured court orders to exhume the bodies for forensic examination, in a probe that is now widening.

David Araka Makori, a Public Health Officer from Nyamira County and Richard Towett, also known as Ezekiel, a caretaker at the cemetery, were arraigned before Kericho Principal Magistrate SM Nyaga on Monday.

However, they did not take plea as investigations are still ongoing.

The court allowed police to detain the two suspects for 30 days pending completion of investigations.

Police arrested the duo on Sunday, shortly after reports emerged that the bodies had been transported from Nyamira and secretly buried in Kericho.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the court that investigators require more time to conclude inquiries, including forensic analysis.

In its orders, the court directed that the bodies, allegedly interred on March 20, 2026, be exhumed under the supervision of a government pathologist.

“The bodies shall be exhumed for purposes of post-mortem examination and extraction of DNA and toxicology samples to establish the cause of death and enable forensic identification,” the court ordered.

The Kericho East Sub-County Police Commander and the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) have been tasked with providing security during the exhumation exercise.

The court further directed that the examinations be conducted at Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary or any other facility designated by the government pathologist, with the Kericho County Public Health Office providing safety oversight.

Senior investigators

The developments come even as Nyamira County officials admitted transporting and burying 13 bodies in Kericho last Thursday. It has since emerged that Nyamira County does not have a public cemetery and has historically relied on facilities in neighbouring counties.

The case has drawn the attention of senior investigators with Director of Homicide Martin Nyuguto taking charge of the probe on Sunday as crowds gathered at the site.

Kericho ACK Bishop Ernest Ngeno clarified that the cemetery is owned by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK).

“The ACK Kericho Diocese does not own the cemetery. It is a property of NCCK, which is our umbrella body,” he said.

Civil society has also weighed in, with Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid calling for broader oversight and protection of witnesses.

“The witnesses, including youths who participated in digging the graves and burying the bodies, must be protected as a matter of urgency,” Mr Khalid said.

He urged the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to join the investigations to enhance transparency and accountability.

Meanwhile, the cemetery remains under heavy police guard, with the area cordoned off as a crime scene to prevent interference with evidence.

Armed officers have restricted public access even as residents continue to gather near the site seeking answers.

“We have been here since yesterday hoping the bodies would be exhumed, but it has not happened yet. We will stay until the truth comes out,” said Peter Langat, a local resident.

Another resident, Isaac Lelelei, said the incident had unsettled the community.

“People here do not usually bury their loved ones in cemeteries but on private land. A mass grave of this nature raises serious concerns,” he said.