Investigate Kakamega pupils' murder mystery

Between January and September this year, three girls aged between six and 12 have been killed under unclear circumstances in Kakamega, with two of the bodies being found dumped at the same site.

The latest case was reported on Monday this week.

The dumping of the bodies and the state they were found in seems to suggest the existence of a cult in the town, or a serial killer on the loose.

Whatever the case may be, it is imperative that the police in the area take decisive action before more cases of this nature are reported.

The killers are targeting primary school kids, and parents must exercise extra care for their children while going to school.

In the first two cases, no one has been arrested or charged with the murder, raising questions on the ability and willingness of the police to get to the root of the matter.

Parents of two of the victims have blamed the police for taking their ‘missing person’ reports lightly by sticking to the law that stipulates a person can only be labelled missing after 24 hours.

Granted, this is what the law says, but prompt action could easily have made a difference. Thus, a review of this law is in order to allow police more flexibility in investigating similar cases.

Witness by a minor may not stand in a court of law, but in two of the three cases, playmates of the victims have given accounts that suggest the killer or killers are involved with the butchery business from the blood-stained clothes they wore.

This, perhaps, should be the reference point from which the police can commence their investigations.

While we blame the police for laxity, members of the public must equally take the blame for failing to report people living amongst them, whose activities are either suspicious or largely unknown. Safety is a collective responsibility for which the public must play its part to make it succeed.