Autopsy examinations on 33 bodies exhumed from a suspected mass grave in Kericho County have been delayed after the county mortuary cited a lack of resources and capacity to process such an unusually large number of remains at once.
The bodies, believed to include 25 children and 8 adults, were uncovered at Makaburini Cemetery earlier this week following a tip-off that led homicide detectives and forensic teams to apply for and secure a court order to exhume the gravesite. The discovery intensified public concern and raised questions about how the remains were buried without clear identification.
Authorities initially expected to unearth 14 bodies, but the number rose to 33 once forensic experts began work at the site, underscoring the scale of what has now become a major investigation.
Kericho County’s mortuary, already operating at limited capacity, informed investigators that its facilities were insufficient to handle the volume of bodies arriving for postmortem examinations.
Officials described a shortage of cold storage units, protective equipment, and trained mortuary technicians, forcing a temporary halt to planned autopsies. Although the exact number of bodies currently held at the facility has not been publicly confirmed, local sources indicate a backlog that could delay forensic work by several days.
Dr. Richard Njoroge, a government pathologist leading the forensic effort, confirmed the exhumation figures to journalists and stated that the Kericho County Hospital mortuary lacks adequate storage capacity and staffing to proceed with scheduled autopsies.
“We have exhumed 33 bodies, but our mortuary facilities are overwhelmed. We cannot begin all autopsies until there is sufficient cold storage and staff support.” Officials have not provided a firm timeline for when the examinations will resume, citing the urgent need for equipment and protective gear to handle decomposing remains.
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The discovery has prompted intense scrutiny from legal and human rights groups. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called for the urgent identification of the bodies and full transparency from authorities. LSK President Faith Odhiambo said in a statement that “identification of these victims must be done as soon as possible” and that families deserve answers about how their loved ones came to be interred in an unmarked grave.
Questions also remain about why 33 bodies were buried in one location without clear documentation or public notice, and why the remains were not accounted for earlier. Preliminary reports suggest that 13 unclaimed bodies may have been transported from Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital under an order to dispose of them at a public cemetery in Kericho, but this still does not explain the additional 20 bodies.
Local leaders and activists have urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to conduct parallel investigations, a move aimed at ensuring accountability if foul play is uncovered.
Residents and advocacy groups have expressed shock and frustration. One Kericho leader said, “This situation is heartbreaking on so many levels, from the unexplained burials to the slow pace of postmortem work. Families need closure.”
The delay in autopsies underlines broader issues facing county mortuaries nationwide, including underfunding and inadequate infrastructure—problems that, if not addressed, could hamper justice and public health processes in future investigations.
– By Mark Simitia
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