What You Need to Know
Preliminary investigations into a mass grave in Kericho indicate possible collusion between officials and a cemetery caretaker. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that the number of bodies exceeded court authorization, leading to arrests. Authorities are committed to a thorough investigation and will release a detailed report soon.
Africa-Press – Kenya. Preliminary investigations into the recent mass grave discovery in Kericho suggest possible collusion between certain officials and a cemetery caretaker, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.
Speaking in Kiptemo during the burial of Dr Edna Chepkwony’s mother, the late Mama Recho Cherono Siele, CS Murkomen expressed deep concern over the incident.
“What happened is unacceptable. There was a court order specifying the number of bodies to be disposed of. It was not supposed to happen in darkness,” he said.
He confirmed that the number of bodies in the grave exceeded the court’s authorisation.
“We have established that the number of bodies exceeds what the court had authorised. Those responsible have been arrested and will face the full force of the law,” CS Murkomen added.
The Cabinet Secretary said authorities are committed to completing the investigations and promised to release a detailed report once the process concludes.
He also commended citizens who came forward to report the matter, describing their actions as vital in uncovering the irregularities.
CS Murkomen used the occasion to remind Kenyans about legal procedures surrounding the disposal of bodies.
“It is important for Kenyans to know that when someone passes away, there is a proper procedure for disposing of a body, and the support of security agencies must be sought,” he advised.
His remarks come as authorities continue examining the graves, which have yielded dozens of bodies in varying stages of decomposition.
Postmortem examinations conducted on March 27 by government pathologists revealed that the causes of death differed significantly among eight recently examined male victims.
These included pneumonia, septicemia, advanced heart disease, pulmonary thromboembolism, head injury, and a combination of choking and head trauma. Two of the bodies had undetermined causes of death.
Earlier examinations of 25 children recovered from the site showed four died from head injuries, 10 from premature birth, and two had undetermined causes.
“Prematurity as a cause of death, we found in 10, and then some sort of head injuries we found in 4,” said Dr Richard Njoroge, one of the pathologists leading the postmortems.
Investigations remain ongoing, with authorities warning that foul play has not been ruled out in some cases. Murkomen promised a comprehensive report once all inquiries are complete.
The discovery of a mass grave in Kericho has raised significant concerns regarding the handling of deceased individuals in Kenya. Legal procedures for body disposal are critical to ensure respect for the deceased and compliance with the law. The involvement of officials in this incident highlights potential systemic issues within the local administration and the need for accountability in such sensitive matters. As investigations unfold, the focus remains on uncovering the truth behind the irregularities and ensuring justice for the victims.
