Mass Grave Uncovered in Kenya: 32 Bodies, Mostly Infants, Exhumed

Wed Mar 25 2026 14:59:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent exhumation in Kericho, Kenya, has revealed a mass grave containing about 32 bodies, predominantly infants and foetuses, raising serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Authorities in Kenya have discovered a mass grave in Kericho, where 32 bodies, including those of 25 children and seven adults, were exhumed. The findings have prompted investigations into how these individuals came to be buried in this site, leading to suspicions of mismanagement and potential criminal activities involving local health officials. The tragic discovery has drawn attention to the urgent need for accountability in the handling of unclaimed bodies.

Authorities in Kenya are investigating the shocking discovery of a mass grave in the western town of Kericho, where about 32 bodies, predominantly children, have been exhumed. The exhumation was authorized following a court order to begin retrieving 14 bodies initially believed to have been buried there.

Government pathologist Richard Njoroge described the scene as quite unusual, noting that many bodies were found stacked in gunny bags. Among the recovered remains, there were seven adults and 25 children, mostly infants and foetuses, with some body parts also found. Post-mortem examinations are set to commence soon to determine their identities and investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Njoroge indicated that several bodies appeared to derive from local hospitals and morgues, suggesting a potential mishandling of unclaimed remains. The investigation was prompted by a whistleblower’s tip-off, leading the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to scrutinize the burial practices at the site owned by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), which has denied any involvement.

A crowd of shocked residents gathered as forensic teams, in protective gear, excavated the area. Police have cordoned off the site as further investigations are undertaken, raising alarm bells about the grave's mismanagement and any possible criminal conduct by those involved in the burial process.

The DCI has confirmed that two individuals, including a public health officer and a cemetery caretaker, have been arrested in connection with the case. Human rights organizations have condemned the discovery, deeming it a tragic escalation of violence that necessitates immediate accountability and transparency in the investigation.

This discovery comes on the heels of a similar case in 2023, where hundreds of bodies linked to a cult were unearthed in a forest, raising ongoing concerns about the treatment of the deceased and transparency within health and burial practices in the region.