• Residents described Makaburini as a routine burial site, making the idea of secret mass graves particularly unsettling. “We never imagined something like this could happen here. It raises so many questions—who are these people, and who buried them?” said one local resident.

Residents of Kericho have raised questions after the grim discovery of at least 14 bodies buried secretly at Makaburini Cemetery. Shock and fear have gripped the community, turning the cemetery into a flashpoint for accountability and transparency.

The bodies are suspected to have originated from Nyamira County. 

“Who gave permission for people from Nyamira to bury their dead here?”

“Where was Governor Amos Nyaribo when the bodies were moved?”

“Where was the Kericho County Government?”

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“The space here belongs to the people of Kericho. If they bring people from Nyamira, our space will run out.”

“We are not happy with this matter. The government should make efforts so that these bodies are removed immediately.”

“Kericho County should have issued a letter or notification if unknown bodies were to be buried here."

These questions reflect the community’s frustration and demand for clarity as police intensify investigations.

On March 23, 2026, the court ordered the exhumation of bodies for postmortems and DNA tests. Police have since launched investigations into the incident, describing it as both “disturbing” and a matter of urgent public concern.

Preliminary reports suggest the burials took place without the knowledge or consent of families or local authorities, raising fears of criminal activity and exposing systemic failures in oversight. 

Through a statement on X, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed it has opened a full‑scale probe. Detectives, forensic experts, and pathologists have been deployed to exhume the bodies, establish identities, determine causes of death, and reconstruct the timeline of events.

Press statement by the National Police Service (NPS)

The discovery, made on March 22, 2026, may be part of a wider pattern.

Residents described Makaburini as a routine burial site, making the idea of secret mass graves particularly unsettling. “We never imagined something like this could happen here. It raises so many questions—who are these people, and who buried them?” said one local resident.

“We appeal to the members of the public to remain calm as investigations are ongoing. Any person with information that may assist this investigation is requested to report to the nearest police station or law enforcement officer or to share it via our toll free numbers: 999, 911, 112, or anonymously via our #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800722203 or WhatsApp 0709570000,” said the NPS.

As the probe unfolds, Makaburini Cemetery has become a symbol of deeper tensions between counties, exposing urgent questions about oversight, dignity, and the protection of community spaces.

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