Nyamira Governor Nyaribo: We Delivered 13 Bodies to Kericho Cemetery, Not 33

Governor Amos Nyaribo says a mistake in the burial process led to confusion over bodies found in a Kericho mass grave

Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has denied claims that 33 bodies were sent from his county to Kericho for burial, insisting that only 13 bodies were officially released.

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the governor said Nyamira County only processed and obtained court orders for the burial of 13 bodies, but later discovered confusion in how the burial was carried out.

He explained that the county had followed the normal procedure of transferring bodies from its mortuary to Kericho for disposal. However, things went wrong after the money meant for the burial process was allegedly misused, leading to a private cemetery being used instead of the county-approved facility.

According to him, this mix-up may have contributed to claims that 33 bodies were involved, something he says the county government does not understand or take responsibility for.

“We only had 13 bodies that were supposed to be disposed of. We followed the law and even obtained court orders. But the process was later diverted, and we do not know where the extra bodies came from,” he said.

The governor has now called for a full investigation to establish what really happened in the controversial burial case in Kericho.

Forensic Findings Raise More Questions

The controversy comes at a time when forensic experts are still analyzing bodies recovered from a mass grave in Kericho.

Government pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge revealed that early examinations show all 25 bodies so far analyzed are children, ranging from premature infants to full-term babies.

He added that some of the remains were badly decomposed, making identification difficult.

The findings showed that 10 of the victims were girls, 8 were boys, while 7 could not be identified due to the condition of the bodies.

Political Leaders Demand Answers

Meanwhile, leaders from Kericho have raised concerns over the incident, questioning why there has been little explanation from Nyamira County leadership.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has been among those demanding clarity, asking both the governor and local leaders to explain what happened and who was responsible for the burial process.

He also questioned the management of the cemetery where the bodies were reportedly found, noting that questions remain over its ownership and operations.

The Kenya National Council of Churches (National Council of Churches of Kenya) has also been mentioned in discussions surrounding the cemetery’s management.