Kenya’s police have come under severe scrutiny following accusations of shooting dozens of anti-government protesters and the discovery of dismembered body parts near a police station. Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja Kirocho announced the transfer of officers from the Kware police station to ensure fair and unbiased investigations into the “heinous” deaths.
On Sunday, Kirocho confirmed that eight female bodies had been retrieved from a rubbish dump in Nairobi’s Mukuru slum. The police watchdog, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), is investigating possible police involvement in these deaths amid allegations of widespread human rights abuses by officers during recent anti-government protests.
Since Friday, detectives have been scouring the site, where the corpses of six women were initially found in sacks floating in a sea of rubbish. On Saturday, five more bags containing body parts were recovered. Preliminary reports indicate the bodies were in various stages of decomposition, with the deceased aged between 18 and 30. Some bags contained severed legs and torsos, leading officers to speculate about the involvement of cultists or serial killers.
However, IPOA noted the proximity of the dump site to Kware police station and the widespread allegations of police involvement in unlawful arrests and abductions. They are conducting a preliminary investigation to establish any police connection. Human rights groups have accused the police of shooting and fatally wounding demonstrators protesting planned tax rises earlier this month, and of abducting or arbitrarily arresting hundreds more.
The bodies found in Mukuru were wrapped in bags and secured with nylon ropes, showing visible marks of torture and mutilation, according to IPOA. Contrary to the police report, IPOA stated that nine dismembered bodies were discovered at the dump—seven female and two male.
Kirocho pledged to conclude the investigation into the deaths within 21 days. The bodies are currently being kept at a funeral home in Nairobi pending post-mortem examinations.