By Joshua Otieno | April 1, 2026
A heated political confrontation has erupted in Nyamira County following the discovery of a mass grave linked to the Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital, sparking national outrage and raising serious concerns over accountability in public health management.
Nyamira Senator Okong’o Mogeni has sharply criticized Governor Amos Nyaribo after 33 bodies—including 25 infants—were exhumed from a single grave at Makaburini Cemetery in Kericho.
The controversy deepened after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that all the bodies were traced back to the Nyamira facility, contradicting the county government’s earlier position that only 13 unclaimed bodies had been officially approved for disposal.
During a Senate session, Mogeni questioned the governor’s explanation, sarcastically asking how 20 additional bodies allegedly “boarded” a county vehicle without authorization. His remarks underscored growing concerns over transparency and possible cover-ups within the county administration.
Governor Nyaribo, however, has distanced himself from the extra bodies, maintaining that the county lawfully released funds to facilitate the burial of 13 unclaimed bodies. He blamed rogue officers for allegedly misusing the funds and colluding with cemetery attendants to conduct unauthorized burials.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin revealed that preliminary investigations, supported by CCTV footage and hospital records, link all 33 bodies to the hospital. Pathologists found that 25 of the victims were infants, while post-mortem results on some adult bodies indicated signs of blunt force trauma, raising concerns of possible foul play.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the burial process, noting it was carried out secretly at night and failed to follow required public health procedures.
Authorities have since arrested six individuals, including senior hospital staff and a cemetery caretaker, as investigations intensify. Detectives are pursuing charges ranging from murder and conspiracy to defeat justice to unauthorized burial.
The Senate is expected to continue its probe into the matter, with leaders calling for accountability and reforms in the management of health services and public funds.
