DCI probe reveals all 33 bodies in Kericho mass grave came from Nyamira Hospital

DCI Director Mohamed Amin, who toured the cemetery in Kericho County, said hospital management and CCTV footage from the morgue confirmed the findings, contradicting claims by the Nyamira governor.

Detectives are now focusing on operations at the hospital mortuary, where more infant bodies are believed to have been released without proper documentation.

More than a week after the shocking discovery of the mass grave in Kericho County, Amin visited the site where homicide detectives have pitched camp to monitor the progress of investigations.

It is here that the DCI boss revealed that all 33 bodies came from Nyamira County Referral Hospital, dismissing the county’s earlier defence that only 13 bodies were from their facility.

"All the remains recovered from the mass grave where we are standing this morning actually originated from Nyamira County Referral Hospital mortuary, and this has been acknowledged by the management and officials of the said hospital," Amin stated. 

CCTV footage obtained from the hospital morgue also captured events before and after a vehicle left the facility, showing the involvement of health officials from Nyamira County.

"Four bags were loaded into a white Toyota Land Cruiser registration number GKA 549L by Jason Mochara Nyabi, who is the chief mortician at the referral hospital under the supervision of the public health officer," the DCI boss noted. 

Amin said concerns go beyond the 33 bodies buried at the cemetery, noting that investigations have uncovered serious lapses in mortuary protocols and documentation at Nyamira County Referral Hospital.

"Whereas the hospital records indicate that 46 infants may have died in the wards and were taken to the morgue, the mortuary records do not account for the discharge of the 46 infants or fetuses whose remains may have left the morgue under unclear circumstances," he added. 

With autopsies conducted and DNA samples collected, the next phase of investigations will involve tracing families of the victims and patients whose amputated limbs were also found in the mass grave.

Three of the six suspects initially arrested have since been released. Those still in police custody include hospital medical superintendent David Makori, chief mortician Jason Mochara and cemetery caretaker Robert Towett.

Detectives are also investigating the ownership of the cemetery and the roles of caretakers and other employees in the case.