Police exhume woman's body from suspected criminals home

Police in Trans Nzoia exhumed the decomposing body of a woman from suspected criminals homestead in Kaliwa village. [Courtesy]

Police in Trans Nzoia Tuesday exhumed the decomposing body of a woman from a homestead in Kaliwa village.

Authorities believe that the woman was killed and secretly buried by suspected criminals.

Police officers investigating the matter said the home where the body was recovered was rented by suspects linked to a motorcycle theft syndicate in Kitale town and Eldoret.

Police officers on Saturday arrested three suspects.

The exhumation led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers cleared suspicions by the public that several bodies were buried at the scene.

Trans Nzoia County Criminal Investigation boss Paul Songok led a multi-agency team in the exercise.

Police suspect the deceased identified as Alice Chemtai was a girlfriend to one of the suspects.

The suspects arrested at the homestead are believed to have murdered the woman.

Police described the suspects as dangerous and armed and have been wanted for murder and robbery incidents in Kitale town and its environs.

Sleuths who have been tracking the suspects arrested them last Saturday before stumbling on a shallow grave in front of their rented house.

Shocked residents camped a few meters away from the home as the DCI exhumed the body which was found wrapped in a blanket.

Emotions ran high as some of the woman's relatives who witnessed the exercise wailed and screamed.

"We have just found one body unlike what is being spread on social media that there was a mass grave here. The victim was in a relationship with one of the suspects in our custody," said Songok.

Angry residents later destroyed the mud-walled three-roomed house and carted away property.

The gang is linked to five deaths reported in the county.

Police have launched a manhunt for other members of the gang.