About 32 bodies, mostly children, have been dug up from a mass grave in the western Kenyan town of Kericho as investigations continue into the shocking discovery. The exhumation was done after the police obtained a court order to retrieve 14 bodies that were initially believed to have been buried at the site.
Government pathologist Richard Njoroge told journalists that what they found was quite unusual with bodies stacked in gunny bags, after a day-long process that was interrupted by heavy rains. A post-mortem examination is expected to begin amid calls to promptly identify the bodies and investigate the circumstances of the deaths.
Njoroge reported that there were seven adults and 25 children, with many of the children being infants and fetuses. Some bodies appeared to have originated from hospitals and mortuaries, but this would be confirmed after the autopsies.
Homicide detectives and forensic teams worked under tight security during the exhumation. Some bodies were recovered intact, while others were found as partial remains and placed in evidence bags. The exhumation followed a tip-off from a whistleblower, which prompted the police to investigate.
Initial findings by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations indicated that 13 unclaimed bodies had been released from a hospital in a neighboring county and transported for burial. However, there remain many unanswered questions about the additional bodies and the manner of burial.
The area belongs to the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), which has denied links to the burial and expressed surprise at the manner in which it was conducted. The DCI is investigating whether any criminal activity occurred alongside irregularities in the burial process.
Two suspects, including a public health officer and a cemetery caretaker, have been arrested, and investigations continue. Human rights group Vocal Africa has called the discovery staggering and horrific, demanding an immediate investigation and accountability. This grim finding follows other recent tragic incidents in Kenya, including mass graves linked to cult activities.
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