There was a standoff at Kware in Mukuru kwa Njenga slums on Saturday, July 13, 2024, between the police and locals during the second day of the retrieval of bodies from an abandoned quarry.
Chaotic scenes ensued when the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) homicide detectives turned down a request from the crowd.
Standoff with police
Upon retrieving five sacks which are believed to have badly mutilated bodies, the crowd in Mukuru demanded that the sacks be opened.
This request was, however, turned down by the police.
The crowd did not take it, as they kept pushing for their demand to be honoured, leading to running battles with the police.
The police were then forced to shoot in the air to scare the angry crowd.
The DCI homicide and Recce squad teams are leading the operation of retrieving the bodies on the second day, with the help of the locals.
Kenya Red Cross
Kenya Red Cross is also helping in the retrieval exercise and has since provided a boat to make the process easy.
On Friday, July 12, 2024, the country was left shocked after about 10 bodies were recovered from the abandoned quarry.
However, the police stated that only six bodies had been recovered as of Friday, with human rights activists placing their tally at nine.
Human rights activist Hussein Khalid in a statement made via his official X account on Saturday, July 13, 2024, said he was in Kware near Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums to assist in the recovery of the bodies.
Khalid in his update said he had witnessed four bodies retrieved, with another body having been spotted by the local divers who are helping the police in the exercise.
So far, reports indicate that at least five bodies have been retrieved on the second day of operation.
Number of bodies soar
The number of bodies being retrieved on the second day are, however, expected to soar, since the operation is still going on.
On Friday, July 12, 2024, the police indicated that six bodies had been recovered on the first day, with human rights activists stating that 9 had been recovered instead.
“Presently in Mukuru kwa Njenga assisting with the recovery of bodies. So far four have been retrieved. Local divers are saying there are more in the pit. Sad sad scenes,” Khalid said.
Presently in Mukuru kwa Njenga assisting with the recovery of bodies. So far four have been retrieved. Local divers are saying there are more in the pit. Sad sad scenes.
NB: Viewer discretion advised pic.twitter.com/DmWDqEzpgW— husseinkhalid (@husskhalid) July 13, 2024