Exhumation work has begun at Gotinyango village in Nyaribari Masaba, Kisii County, after a young woman believed to have died in a road accident seven months ago unexpectedly resurfaced alive.
County health officials and police officers on Wednesday supervised the operation as the family of 20-year-old Sarah Kwamboka watched from a distance, stunned by the unfolding events.
Family Buried the Wrong Body in February
Kwamboka disappeared in October last year. She was expected to join Form Four this year, but her sudden disappearance left her family searching desperately for months without success.
A call from a local mortuary early this year seemed to bring the painful search to an end. Officials informed the family that Sarah had been hit by a vehicle and died at the scene.
Despite the body having severe head injuries, relatives identified it as Sarah.
Her mother said she recognised her daughter’s teeth and accepted that the ordeal had come to a tragic close.
The family gathered what little resources they had and buried the remains in mid-February.
Shock as Sarah Calls Home Months After Burial
The family’s certainty collapsed in September when Sarah’s mother received a call from an unfamiliar number. The caller claimed to be with Sarah but said the young woman was too afraid to speak.
Believing it to be a cruel prank, she hung up.
The phone rang again moments later—this time with a familiar voice speaking in Ekegusii.
It was Sarah.
During the emotional call, Sarah explained where she was and revealed she had eloped with another man, unaware that her family had buried someone else in her place.
Her mother, still in disbelief, told her how the family had mourned and buried the body they believed to be hers.
Authorities Investigating
The exhumation aims to determine the true identity of the person buried under Sarah’s name and establish how the misidentification occurred. Forensic experts are expected to examine the remains once they are recovered.
Authorities have not yet released additional details as the investigation continues.
