The ongoing retrieval efforts have faced some challenges, with the Kenya Red Cross deploying a boat to aid in the rescue mission.
With rescue efforts still ongoing, five more sacks believed to contain body parts have been retrieved from the Mukuru kwa Njenga dumpsite, which brings the total number of bodies recovered to 15.
The ongoing retrieval efforts have faced some challenges, with the Kenya Red Cross deploying a boat to aid in the rescue mission. This comes as human rights groups have lamented the rather slow process in terms of retrieving the bodies from the quarry pit where they were first discovered on Friday.
The exact number of bodies still buried in the dumpsite opposite Kware Police Station remains unknown, even though multiple sources ranging from Kenyans on the ground to authorities including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are giving conflicting figures, making it difficult for members of the public across the country to really ascertain the true figures in terms of the number of bodies collected.
Even so, the grim discovery of the bodies, mutilated and wrapped in sacks continues to horrify the local community and leave investigators perplexed.
DCI detectives at the Kware dumpsite on July 13, 2024. /MUKURU COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTRE
The DCI, supported by a specialised homicide team and the Recce squad, is spearheading the effort to uncover the truth behind these gruesome acts. Photos shared on social media as of Saturday, July 13 also showed officers from the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) on scene, fully uniformed and well-armed.
Large crowds of residents gathered around the dumpsite since Friday, drawn by the shocking spectacle and the hope of understanding the horror that has befallen their neighbourhood.
Preliminary investigations as reported by DCI had suggested a chilling similar mode of killing for the deceased, hinting at a mass femicide that was carried out before the bodies were dumped in the river. On Friday, reports indicated that most of the bodies recovered were female.
DCI boss Mohamed Amin revealed that “The bodies have been transferred to the City Mortuary, where they await post-mortem examinations to confirm our suspicions and positively identify the victims.”
The uniform manner in which the bodies were wrapped and disposed of suggests that these heinous acts may be the work of the same perpetrators. Witnesses have reported that the bodies appear to be in a similar state of decomposition, estimated at one to two weeks.
This observation is yet to be officially confirmed through post-mortem examinations, which are expected to provide crucial insights into the victims’ identities and the cause of death.
Meanwhile, several other bodies voiced their concerns regarding the discovery, with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) urging President William Ruto’s administration to disclose the circumstances surrounding the discovery of these mutilated bodies.
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) fiercely condemned the horrifying discovery of mutilated female bodies in Mukuru kwa Njenga, labelling the incident as “unacceptable.”
Azimio La Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga demanded immediate action following the discovery by calling on the government to launch a probe and bring to book the perpetrators of the heinous act.
Late on Friday, the Director of Public Prosecution, Renson Ingonga directed the interim Inspector General, Douglas Kanja to thoroughly investigate the recovery of the bodies and file the probe report with his office within 21 days to facilitate further action.
Similarly, the ODPP ordered the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) and the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations on the matter and submit reports for review every seven days.
