Authorities Launch Full-Scale Investigation into Alleged Mass Grave at Kericho's Makaburini Cemetery

The disturbing discovery has sent ripples of concern through the local community, prompting immediate action to preserve evidence and uncover the truth behind what could be a major criminal incident. Police, working alongside scenes-of-crime experts and the Deputy County Investigating Officer (DCIO), descended on the site located about 1.5 kilometres from Kericho Police Station after a public tip-off on Saturday.

According to preliminary accounts from two casual grave diggers who were reportedly hired for the task, a white Land Cruiser arrived at the cemetery on March 20, 2026, around 6:00 am. The occupants allegedly instructed the workers to prepare a large single grave before offloading multiple bodies from the vehicle. Witnesses claimed the same individuals had visited the previous day to discuss arrangements with the cemetery caretaker, identified as Ezekiel. The National Police Service confirmed in an official statement issued on March 22 that witness statements have already been recorded, while efforts are underway to trace and interview additional persons of interest, including a manhunt for the missing caretaker.

Investigators are now preparing to seek a court order for exhumation as early as March 23 to verify the claims and determine the cause of death for the remains. The incident has raised serious questions about possible foul play, illegal burials, or even links to broader criminal activities in the region. Local residents have expressed shock and demanded transparency, with calls for thorough forensic analysis to bring justice and closure. Police have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, emphasizing that the probe remains at an early stage as they work to establish the full facts surrounding this unsettling event at the public burial ground.