By Andrew Kariuki
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called for the immediate identification of 33 bodies exhumed from a suspected mass grave at Makaburini Cemetery in Kericho County, as pressure mounts on authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the burials.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo, in a statement shared on her X account, urged investigators to act swiftly to establish the identities of the victims and ensure they are accorded dignity in death.
“Identification of these victims must be done as soon as possible,” she stated.
The call comes after a multi-agency team uncovered the bodies during an exhumation exercise that has since raised serious concerns over the nature and legality of the burials.
Government pathologist Richard Njoroge confirmed that 25 of the bodies are children, while eight are adults, deepening the gravity of the case.
Initial reports had indicated that 14 bodies had been buried at the site, but the figure rose to 33 following the exhumation, intensifying questions over the origin and handling of the remains.
The exercise, conducted under the supervision of Director of Homicide Martin Nyuguto and a government pathologist representing Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, turned the cemetery into an active crime scene.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) carried out the day-long exhumation under heavy rains, concluding in the evening. Attention has now shifted to post-mortem examinations expected to determine the cause of death.
Human rights organizations and independent observers, including the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), were present during the exercise and have called for a transparent and thorough investigation.
Hussein Khalid emphasized the need to establish the identities of the deceased, the cause of death, and the circumstances under which they were buried.
Activists are also pushing for oversight bodies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to conduct parallel investigations to ensure accountability.
Preliminary reports indicate that Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital had obtained a court order to dispose of 13 unclaimed bodies at the cemetery. However, the discovery of 33 bodies has raised questions over the additional remains and whether due process was followed.
Two suspects—David Araka Makori and Richard Towet—are currently in police custody, with a court having granted investigators 30 days to detain them as inquiries continue.
The unfolding case has sparked national concern, with calls for answers on who the deceased were, how they died, and why they were buried under unclear circumstances.
