Acting IG Kanja transfers officers as detectives probe Kware dumpsite murders

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja flanked by DCI boss Mohamed Amin addresses the press outside Jogoo house Nairobi on Sunday, July 14, 2024, on the recovered bodies from Mukuru Kwa Njenga. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Homicide detectives are pursuing possible links of cult, serial killing or rogue medical practitioners involved in criminal activities that led to killing of at least nine women.

Directorate of Criminal investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin said the bodies that were retrieved from Kware dumpsite in Mukuru kwa Njenga pointed to an organised criminal racket owing to the nature of the killings. 

“The mode of operation was almost the same. If you look at the age, it is between 18 to 30. If you look at the gender, they are all female and the way the bodies have been disguised and packaged is all the same. If you look at the place the bodies were thrown into the dumpsite, just one spot,” said Amin.

So far, nine bodies at different stages of decomposition have been retrieved from the disused quarry which has been turned into a dumpsite.

The DCI boss spoke during at a press briefing on the status of the recovery in Nairobi on Sunday.

Addressing the Press, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced the transfer of all the police officers at Kware Police Station located near the dumpsite where the nine mutilated bodies were recovered.

Kanja said the transfer of the officers was to ensure the investigations are fair and not biased.

The acting IG said they are working with the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) to ensure investigations conclude within 21 days.

“Within 21 days, we will have gotten all the information. We will have known who committed these crimes and they will all take their cross,” he said.

Kanja noted that police recovered six bodies on Friday, July 12, 2024, and five more sacks were retrieved on Saturday, however, only three contained human body parts, while the others contained a carcass of a dog and garbage.

“The scene is still active and investigations are ongoing. Preliminary investigations reveal that all recovered bodies were female, which were severely dismembered in different stages of decomposition and left in sacks,” he said.

The bodies were removed to City Mortuary where postmortem examination will be conducted on Monday.

“We are committed to ensuring transparency throughout the postmortem examination process by collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including the media and the civil society,” said the IG.

“In this difficult time, we stand with the community and remain committed to uncovering the truth and bringing those responsible to justice,” he added.

Kanja said the investigators are not ruling out any possible link to the heinous murders of the women.

However, he urged the public particularly residents of Kware to be calm and avoid speculation and instead volunteer information that would help the homicide team to unravel the mysterious murders.

“The entire National Police Service and I understood the deep concern and distress the tragedy brings to the families, and residents of Kware and fellow Kenyans. The Police Service and I would like to assure the public that we are committed to conducting transparent, thorough and swift investigations,” said Kanja.

DCI detectives have recorded statements from the relatives of Josephine Owino whose sister  claimed to have had a vision in a dream of her missing sister and led the public to the quarry where the bodies were recovered.

Owino is said to have have gone missing on June 26 at around 9 am after receiving a call from a male friend.

“Owino told her sister that she was going to meet my friend. And from her (sister’s) observation, she was not in distress and she was comfortable with the caller, and she left. Only for her to disappear later in the evening within Mukuru slums,” said Amin.

The DCI boss said they have invited all stakeholders to witness the postmortem.

“We are inviting all stakeholders including civil societies, family members, and the media because we are not hiding anything. And it is our conviction that ultimately we will be able to resolve these heinous matters,” he said.

Amin urged the public not to contaminate the crime scene for easier examination by the detectives.