Why Eldoret robbers are digging up war graves

Eldoret’s historic war graves face grave robbers seeking relics that fetch handsome amounts of cash. [Wycliff Kipsang, Standard]

Situated about three kilometres to the North-East of the town centre lies the European Cemetery, which contains five Commonwealth burials of the Second World War and one French war grave.

But in the tranquillity of the vicinity, the words 'Rest in Peace' written on the tombstones are a thing of the past, as grave robbers are having a field day digging the graves in search of valuable relics that fetch handsome amounts of cash.

What greets you upon arrival at the cemetery are defaced tombstones scattered through the once-beautiful cemetery, with the metal epitaphs missing due to the lucrative scrap metal business.

We found innocent children playing at the cemetery, with some seated on the tombstones unaware that they were disturbing the dead.

Eldoret’s historic war graves face grave robbers seeking relics that fetch handsome amounts of cash. [Wycliff Kipsang, Standard]

The Standard established that grave robbers have the popular belief that wealthy colonial farmers were buried with their worldly possessions in fancy graves, giving rise to grave robbery.

One might expect the heroes here to be resting in peace, but that does not seem to be the case, as the cemetery is now a shell of its former self.

A spot check revealed that, at the cemetery, it is the only grave of Private Marange (number 14503), a French veteran who died on June 26, 1943, was buried there, and is undergoing constant renovations.

This has been made possible by the financial support from the Directorate of Heritage, Memory and Archives of the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the French Embassy's defence mission.

Other graves lie in disarray, and locals are concerned that the failure to preserve the open-ended Commonwealth Military Cemetery could lead to its complete depletion.

It also emerged that the destruction of the graves has given rise to development by alleged land grabbers who have shifted the signage leading to the graves.

"Residential and commercial buildings are coming up day and night. If this is not checked, the graves will soon be missing, history will be lost," said Mercy Jepkemoi, a resident of Subaru estate next to where the graves are located.

Members of the public recently busted four suspected treasure hunters, while three others managed to escape after they were found exhuming the ancient graves.

The suspects had already dug open a grave, leaving exposed skeletal remains and had started exhuming a second one before they were busted by residents while in the act.

The bizarre afternoon incident saw the suspects beaten up by an angry mob after a woman who saw them raised the alarm.

An assortment of herbs believed to be witchcraft paraphernalia, business cards from funeral homes and several mobile phones were recovered from the suspects.

They admitted that it was not their first time digging up graves.

"We believe the dead were buried with valuables; that's why we have been digging the ancient graves. The demand for relics and old ornaments has a lucrative market abroad,” said one of the suspects.

Eldoret’s historic war graves face grave robbers seeking relics that fetch handsome amounts of cash. [Wycliff Kipsang, Standard]

According to the suspect, their main target in exhumations is antique padlocks, iron boxes, and gold and silver ornaments they believe their owners were buried with.

Uasin Gishu County Government has come under fire for abandoning the ancient graves, leaving them at the mercy of grave robbers.

An Eldoret-based human rights activist, Kimutai Kirui, challenged the devolved unit to surrender the cemetery to any institution willing to preserve it if it is unwilling to do so.

“What is happening at the graves is a grave matter. The county government should surrender the historical site to any institution, preferably a university, to preserve it for academic purposes and future generations,” said Kirui.

"The county government should come forward and explain to the locals what it is doing to preserve the facility," he added.

According to Uasin Gishu County Director of Culture Haji Dakane Mohamed, his department is working with the national government on identifying and preserving such historical sites.

"We are in the process of mapping out all the heritage sites such as the Eldoret War Cemetery so that together with the national government we can preserve them because they have great historical significance to our country," said Dakane.

On its website, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission claims that Eldoret Cemetery is open to the public every day for visits.

"Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible via the main entrance," the website reads in part.

However, this is not the situation on the ground, with the Cemetery barely accessible from the Eldoret-Iten road due to encroachment from mushrooming residential houses and commercial buildings.