Three charged over illegal mass burial of 33 bodies in Kericho

Three people have been charged over the illegal mass burial of more than 33 bodies in a single grave at the National Council of Churches of Kenya Public Cemetery in Kericho. The suspects include cemetery supervisor Richard Towett, also known as Ezekiel, and two Nyamira County officials, David Haraka and Jason Machora. Towett appeared before Kericho Chief Magistrate Atanga Thomas Obutu, where he faced charges of permitting the mass burial without valid permits. Haraka and Machora are accused of illegally transporting and delivering the bodies to the cemetery. The prosecution alleges that the three violated Section 21 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, which regulates the disposal of human remains. Kericho County NCCK officials, led by council chairman Reverend Philimon Koskei, have presented evidence in court alongside their lawyer, Davis Sang. The three suspects have been remanded for 30 days, with the case set to be mentioned on October 15, 2026.