The burial of 14 bodies in a Kericho town cemetery shocked the public. Local administrators, police, county officials, and cemetery owners did not know about the burials. People asked how the bodies moved from Nyamira County. Reports say authorities approved the transfer under court disposal orders. However, Kericho government agencies did not receive notice. Three men said someone hired them to offload and bury the bodies. “We received Sh1,000 to dig the grave and Sh1,000 to offload and bury the bodies. We did no other work,” one worker said. Security officers warned them not to speak to the media. “We also do not know who hired us. They also wore masks. We do this work to earn a living. We have done similar work before,” he added. Investigators found that the vehicle had government registration but was partially hidden.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), which owns the cemetery, said no one sought permission for the burials. Reports indicate more than 60 bodies from Nyamira may have been buried secretly in recent months. Mr Fredrick Odhiambo, Head of the Rapid Response Program at Vocal Africa, said almost 70 bodies could have been buried without authorities knowing. “Besides the 14 bodies buried recently, another nine were buried last month. Also, Forty-two were transported last year. This issue runs deeper than it appears,” he said. Mr Odhiambo called for urgent investigations. “The Director-General of the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations must explain this to Kenyans. Those responsible must face consequences,” he added.
Concerns Over Extrajudicial Killings
The discovery also raised fears of extrajudicial killings. Reports show missing people sometimes turn up dead in mortuaries. “If these are not victims of extrajudicial killings, why did they bury them secretly? Why did Kericho authorities not know?” Mr Odhiambo asked. DCI Homicide Director Martin Nyuguto took control of the cemetery. Police cordoned off the area and guarded it with armed officers. Authorities sought court orders to exhum the bodies. Accompanied by Kericho County Police Commander Kivinda Kilonzo, Mr Nyuguto asked residents to remain calm. “Forensic investigations are underway. We follow legal procedures. We ask the public to cooperate,” he said.
The Anglican Church of Kenya in Kericho also said it had no knowledge of the burials. Reverend Andrew Tum said people must contact cemetery administrators and provide burial permits before burial. “No one sought permission. We are as unaware as everyone else,” he said. Kericho Governor Erick Mutai said his government had no arrangement with other counties to bury bodies locally. “Kericho is not a cemetery for other counties. We made no such deals. This shocks us,” he said. He added that authorities would store exhumed bodies at Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary to prevent tampering. Dr Mutai said authorities would exhume bodies in daylight and in public. “We will not dig at night. The process, however, must stay transparent. People could interfere or swap bodies,” he warned. He also told residents to stay alert amid rising cult activities. “Monitor your loved ones and watch who you associate with,” he said.
Investigation and Public Reaction
Health officials in Nyamira County however, said they recently sent 13 unclaimed bodies to Kericho. It is unclear if these bodies match the 14 found. On February 10, 2026, David Araka, on behalf of Nyamira County Referral Hospital Mortuary, issued a public notice. Families had 14 days to claim unclaimed bodies. Authorities disposed of the rest to reduce mortuary congestion. A senior Nyamira official said, “Nyamira lacks a public cemetery. We normally transfer unclaimed bodies to Kericho. We followed due process.” He also added that the Nyamira Magistrate’s Court issued a court order for the transfer.
Also, among the deceased was Collins Sirinji Mahunya, found in November 2024 in an advanced state of decomposition. Others included unidentified adult males, a one-year-old child, abandoned stillborn twins, and foetuses recovered by police. Kapsoit Ward Representative Paul Chirchir demanded answers. “Residents deserve to know where the bodies came from, who transported them, and why authorities were unaware,” he said. Residents feared extrajudicial killings. Peter Oyoo said, “Bodies could have been dumped far from victims’ homes. This worries us.” Beatrice Chebet urged the government to act fast. “Investigations must be professional. Authorities must release the findings to stop speculation,” she said.
Police guarded the cemetery as hundreds of residents gathered. Heavy rain in the evening dispersed the crowd. The incident shocked and alarmed the community. Authorities called for transparency, accountability, and full investigations. Forensic teams collected evidence to identify the deceased. Court orders will regulate exhumations. Officials warned the public not to speculate or take the law into their hands. The case revealed gaps in oversight, security, and county communication. It raised questions about handling unclaimed bodies and managing cemeteries. It showed the urgent need to prevent illegal mass burials. As investigations continue, residents and stakeholders monitor the site.
