(Adnkronos) – A mass grave containing 32 bodies, most of which are children and newborns, has been discovered in the city of Kericho, western Kenya. Police reported this, while pathologist Richard Njoroge told reporters that the discovery is “quite unusual,” with the bodies “piled in jute sacks.” The bodies found are those of “seven adults and 25 children,” including newborns and fetuses, Njoroge said. Autopsies begin today.
The pathologist added that some of the bodies appeared to come from hospitals and morgues, noting that the remains of the adults were in an advanced state of decomposition, while those of the children were less so. This would indicate that they had died at different times. Some bodies were recovered intact, others as remains and bones. Police have cordoned off the area.
The location of the mass grave is owned by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), which has denied any involvement. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reported that two suspects, a public health official from Nyamira and a cemetery caretaker, have been arrested in connection with the matter, while other individuals are being questioned. The human rights organization Vocal Africa stated that the discovery represents a “disconcerting and horrific escalation that reveals the true extent of this tragedy.” A note reads that “reports of mutilation and dismemberment among the remains indicate a level of violence that requires immediate and transparent investigation and accountability at the national level.”
