Authorities in Kericho County, western Kenya, have uncovered a mass burial site containing 32 human remains, most of them children and infants, in a case that has alarmed officials and residents alike.
Police began exhumations on March 24, 2026, at a cemetery after obtaining a court order to recover 14 expected burials but instead found a significantly larger number of bodies, including around 25 children — some neonates and foetuses — and several adults.
Government pathologist Richard Njoroge said the adult remains appeared more decomposed than those of the children, suggesting they were buried at different times, and noted that some bodies might have come from hospitals or mortuaries. Autopsies are under way to determine causes and timing of deaths.
Authorities have arrested at least two individuals, including a county health officer and the cemetery manager, who are being held as investigations proceed. Officials are probing how unclaimed bodies were buried without proper oversight and whether legal procedures were followed.
The discovery has raised serious questions about burial practices and regulatory lapses at the cemetery, which is managed by a church organisation that has denied prior knowledge of the mass interment. Families and human rights advocates are calling for transparency and accountability as investigators seek to identify the deceased and clarify the circumstances leading to their burial.
