Grim details on 33 bodies exhumed from mass grave
National
By
Nikko Tanui
| Mar 27, 2026
Homicide detectives exhume unidentified bodies at Kericho Public Cemetery. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
Postmortem examinations and DNA analysis on 33 exhumed bodies from a mass grave in Kericho County have commenced.
The exercise has pushed the Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary to its operational limits, revealing glaring gaps in capacity and preparedness.
At exactly 12 noon, government pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge entered the overstretched facility to begin the delicate and complex forensic process, marking the start of what officials describe as one of the most demanding tasks ever undertaken at the mortuary.
READ MORE
NCBA profit rises to Sh23b as Nedbank buyout nears
Kenya bets Sh152 billion on AI to become Africa's technology hub
Kenyan agribusinesses among 20 picked to fight food loss in Africa
Tourism regulator ties hotel grading to safety drills
Youth seek Blue Economy financing
Fears as airfares rise due to fuel shortage
Kenya inches closer to nuclear power with Siaya plant plan
How harsh economy has pushed working Kenyans to side hustles
IM Group growth rises as Kakuzi posts profit rebound
Agriculture reaps big as Kenya secures Sh377 billion investment deals
The facility, which has a preservation capacity of just 16 bodies, is currently managing more than twice that number.
As a result, forensic teams have been forced to improvise.
Kericho’s Director of Medical Services, Dr Betty Langat, admitted that the facility is not designed to handle such a high volume of bodies at once.
“The mortuary does not have the capacity to process a large number of bodies simultaneously. What we are experiencing now surpasses what it was built for,” she said.
The strain has been further acknowledged by County Executive Committee Member for Health, Dr David Ekuwam, who, in an earlier interview, pointed to recurring pressure on the facility due to major incidents.
“The high number of bodies brought to the mortuary, especially during fatal accidents, highlights the urgent need for a larger morgue in Kericho,” he stated.
“The county government has approved plans to construct a morgue with a capacity for 64 bodies," he added.
The postmortem process, which involves detailed examination of each body alongside DNA sampling for identification, has significantly stretched available personnel, equipment, and space.
Experts say the process cannot be rushed, as each step must strictly follow forensic standards to ensure accuracy and credibility.
Dr Njoroge acknowledged the pressure facing the team, noting that the scale of the operation has overwhelmed the facility.
“The current mortuary capacity is overwhelmed. We are working under constrained conditions, but we are doing everything possible to ensure each body is given dignity and a proper examination,” he said.
The bodies, which had earlier been transported from Nyamira County Referral Hospital and buried under controversial circumstances before being exhumed, are now at the centre of a high-stakes investigation requiring meticulous forensic scrutiny.
The combination of postmortem procedures and DNA analysis has further complicated the process, as samples must be carefully collected, preserved, and recorded—tasks that demand time and specialised resources currently in short supply.
Despite the challenges, Dr Njoroge emphasised that the integrity of the process would not be compromised.
“For us to establish identities and causes of death, we must adhere strictly to forensic protocols. Any compromise in handling the bodies affects the integrity of the entire investigation,” he said.
The strain on the mortuary has reignited concerns about infrastructure, with calls growing louder for the urgent expansion of forensic facilities in Kericho County.
As the painstaking process continues, the pressure remains high on forensic teams working against time, limited space, and public expectation to deliver answers in one of the region’s most disturbing cases.