NAIROBI, Kenya — The Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin, has revealed severe irregularities in mortuary tagging and documentation at Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital following the discovery of dozens of remains linked to the facility.
Speaking Tuesday during a visit to the burial site, Amin said detectives identified major gaps in record-keeping and identification after examining 39 remains recovered from the grave.
“We noted severe irregularities in mortuary tagging and documentation. The vast majority of the 39 remains — 33 bodies and six parts — lacked standard official mortuary tags,” Amin said.
“Only a few had illegible hospital tags or informal handwritten wrist or foot tags; none had proper hospital identification or documentation.”
Hospital records indicate that 46 infants may have died in the wards and were later transferred to the mortuary. However, investigators found no documentation showing when or how the remains were discharged, raising concerns about adherence to established protocols.
The discrepancies extend to burial practices at Makaburini Cemetery, managed by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Kericho branch, where the remains were interred.
Amin confirmed that hospital management acknowledged that the remains originated from their mortuary. Investigators also obtained security footage showing four bags containing remains being loaded into a white Toyota Land Cruiser on March 19, 2026, by the chief mortician under the supervision of a public health officer. The vehicle has since been impounded as evidence.
Detectives have submitted DNA and toxicology samples from the remains to the government chemist for identification. Authorities are also tracing the parents of deceased infants and collecting reference DNA samples from patients who underwent limb amputations at the hospital.
Investigators are reviewing hospital files, mortuary records, court orders, and NCCK administrative documents to establish the legal status and employment details of cemetery caretaker Richard Towett.
Six suspects were initially arrested in connection with the matter. Three were released but remain under investigation, while three others — Justin Machora, David Araka Makori, and Towett — remain in custody under court orders. The case is scheduled for mention on April 23, 2026.
Amin clarified that investigators had found no evidence of homicide despite public speculation.
“People are talking about mass murder. This is not about murder. We are dealing with negligence and accountability, and appropriate action will follow,” he said.
