Human rights activists have called for urgent and comprehensive actions following the discovery of dismembered bodies in an abandoned quarry in Kware, Mukuru kwa Njenga in Embakasi South Sub-County.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in a statement on Saturday, July 13, 2024, warned security forces against interfering with the bodies.
Interfering with bodies
According to KHRC, avoiding any interference with the bodies will help preserve evidence so that the cause of death can be determined and the perpetrators brought to justice.
“More mutilated bodies have been recovered from a quarry pit in Mukuru, Embakasi South. Yesterday, eight bodies were found. Security forces must avoid interfering with the bodies and preserve evidence so that the cause of death can be determined and the perpetrators brought to justice,” KHRC said.
#Statement
More mutilated bodies have been recovered from a quarry pit in Mukuru, Embakasi South. Yesterday, eight bodies were found. Security forces must avoid interfering with the bodies and preserve evidence so that the cause of death can be determined and the perpetrators… pic.twitter.com/S7ZI4gPiuE— KHRC (@thekhrc) July 13, 2024
The Police Reforms Working Group-Kenya (PRWG-K) and the Coalition for Freedom and Fairness (CFF) in a joint statement issued on Saturday, July 13, 2024, which has been shared by KHRC, urged the government to undertake swift and thorough investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to hold those responsible accountable.
PRWG-K and CFF in their joint statement emphasized the need for immediate and detailed investigations.
Co-mingled bodies
The groups expressed their concerns that the bodies may be co-mingled due to the dismemberment.
As a result, the activists have advocated for the proper sorting and reassociation of remains according to forensic medical best practices.
To ensure accurate identification, they have urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Division of Forensic and Pathology Services, and the National Registration Bureau to prioritize the immediate collection of fingerprints from the victims.
Post-mortems
They have also stated that postmortems should be conducted in the presence of independent observers.
The National Construction Authority has also been requested to close all open quarries to prevent further incidents.
PRWG-K and CFF further called for the establishment of a National Missing Persons Database to aid in the identification and investigation processes of similar incidents.
They argue that many people have since been reported missing following the anti-Finance Bill, 2024 protests that were witnessed in the country.
The human rights activists have also called for a clear cooperation mechanism for evidence management between the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and other law enforcement agencies.