Brutal killers on the loose in leafy City Park

   A man and his girl friend walk at the City Park taken on 29th September 2014. PHOTO: WILBERFORCE OKWIRI  

Who exactly is behind the recent killings at City Park? Could the place be under attack by a serial killer?

Well, these are questions city police are yet to unravel.

In the past week, five bodies have reportedly been recovered at the park, sparking fears that the killings could be ritual.

On October 18, two male bodies were discovered at the historic pavilion with their heads bludgeoned, apparently by rocks, while the torsos lay on a piece of sack soaked with blood.

On the same day, a few metres away at the Jewish cemetery, another body belonging to a middle-age man was spotted bearing hallmarks of injuries inflicted by boulders and left spread on a sack.

Later, a female body was retrieved from a drainage near the Dog’s Pound and another male body was later discovered on October 21, at the same spot.

Apart from the female corpse, traders at the City Park Market could not identify the male victims.

“Some traders positively identified the slain woman, whom they say occasionally visited the market,” said a resident who did not wish to be named.

Following the killings, a vigil was mounted with a suspect almost getting nabbed in the wee hours of of October 21.

The suspect was hit by a vehicle along the Thika Superhighway as he fled from a mob in hot pursuit.

David Kahara alias Kasi Kasi, a village elder, said the suspect was found with a metal bar, which they believe could be one of the weapons used in the killings.

“We only know the woman, because she would come and preach here before purchasing a few items. On the fateful day, she bought grocery which was found intact in her bag,” said Kahare.

The woman was only known as Mama wa Kuhubiri, according to the village elder who claimed that similar killings happened in 2008 before high-powered security meeting was held to contain the situation.

He attributed the security lapses to ongoing construction works in the park where the only known footpath has been blocked leading to many panya routes. 

 Speaking to The Nairobian, Kenya Police Spokeswoman Zipporah Mboroki said the situation is now under control. She said the suspect who was hit by a vehicle was probably plotting to commit a crime within the park.

She added that they are pursuing the perpetrators and have scaled-up security at the park.

“We shall get them wherever they are. We suspect the man who was knocked down while attempting to cross the road is one of them, otherwise, why would he take off on spotting our officers who found a metal bar on him,” added Mboroki.