About 32 bodies, mostly children, have been dug up from a mass grave in the western Kenyan town of Kericho as investigations continue into the shocking discovery.


The exhumation was conducted after police obtained a court order to retrieve 14 bodies that were initially believed to have been buried at the site.


Government pathologist Richard Njoroge disclosed that what they found was quite unusual with bodies stacked in gunny bags, after a day-long process interrupted by heavy rains.


A post-mortem examination is expected to begin on Wednesday, amid calls to promptly identify the bodies and investigate the circumstances of the deaths.


Njoroge reported that there were seven adults and 25 children, with the children being infants and foetuses. Additionally, some body parts were discovered.


The pathologist mentioned that some bodies appeared to have originated from hospitals and mortuaries, though final confirmation will come after autopsies.


He also noted that adult remains were highly decomposed, while the children's bodies showed less decomposition, suggesting they died at different times.


On Tuesday, homicide detectives and forensic teams worked under tight security as they conducted the exhumation, with police sealing off the area while a crowd of residents gathered nearby, visibly shaken by the proceedings.


The discovery followed a tip-off from a whistleblower that prompted police to launch an investigation, revealing initial findings that pointed to the burial of 13 unclaimed bodies from a hospital in neighbouring Nyamira county, transported to Kericho for burial last Friday.


However, many questions remain about the additional bodies and the burial manner, particularly since the site belongs to the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), which has denied any prior knowledge or approval of the grave's use.


Two suspects, including a public health officer from Nyamira and a cemetery caretaker, have been arrested in connection with the incident, as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) explores the possibility of criminalities along with the reported irregularities.


Human rights group Vocal Africa called the discovery a staggering and horrific escalation that necessitates a transparent investigation and accountability, especially given reports of violence surrounding the deceased.


The situation resonates with a prior tragedy of mass graves discovered linked to cult activities near Malindi, where hundreds of bodies were found in 2023.