Exhumation starts as suspects are arraigned in Kericho mass grave saga

Authorities in Kericho County made further progress in the ongoing investigation into a suspected mass grave in Kericho East Sub-County.

Exhumation of 14 bodies buried at the site began at Makaburi Cemetery as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations took over the probe.

Multi agency teams camped at the scene for the exercise on Tuesday.

The process will allow pathologists and forensic experts to recover the remains, establish the cause and manner of death, and facilitate identification of the deceased. Investigators will also assess whether any criminal activity occurred beyond reported irregularities in the burial process.

On March 23, 2026, at around 9:30 a.m., two suspects were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kericho.

The suspects are David Araka Makori, a Public Health Officer at Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Richard Towett, also known as Ezekiel, an employee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya and caretaker of the Kericho NCCK Cemetery.

The arraignments, filed under Miscellaneous Application sought custodial and exhumation orders to allow authorities to continue investigations and prepare for the recovery of remains from the site.

The court granted the requests for a period of 30 days, giving law enforcement agencies the mandate to carry out necessary arrangements for exhumation and further forensic examinations.

Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to establish the identities of those buried and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Preliminary findings indicate that thirteen unclaimed bodies were lawfully released from Nyamira County Referral Hospital and transported to Kericho for burial on the morning of March 20, 2026.

So far, five witnesses have recorded detailed statements, with additional interviews ongoing.

The vehicle believed to have transported the bodies, a white Land Cruiser, has been located, impounded, and is currently undergoing forensic examination.

Meanwhile, the cemetery remains cordoned off and under round-the-clock police guard.

Authorities confirmed that the cemetery is owned by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), as verified by officials from its Kericho branch.

The Director of Homicide Martin Nyuguto is leading a specialised team that has assumed full control of the investigation from officers at Kericho Police Station.