Forensic experts exhume seven bodies from secret graves in Kitengela

By PETERSON GITHAIGA and PONCIANO ODONGO

Kajiado, Kenya: Seven unidentified bodies have been exhumed from two graves discovered on Saturday at the border of Machakos and Kajiado counties near Athi River.

Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor led a team of officers from the forensic department and the Kenya Red Cross Society to exhume the decomposed bodies.

In the first scene, six bodies at the same level of decomposition were retrieved at a quarry while a seventh one was retrieved just two kilometres from the scene.

According to Dr Oduor, the six bodies were piled on top of each other and are estimated to have been dumped not more than a month ago.

“We have exhumed seven bodies in two separate scenes. Our preliminary investigations show the bodies could have been dumped between two to four weeks ago. The other body might have been dumped three days ago,” said Oduor.

Missing relatives

He said all the exhumed bodies seem to be male and added more would be known after post mortems are carried out, further alluding that there is a possibility of DNA tests to determine the identity of the deceased persons.

The pathologist appealed to the public who have missing relatives to turn up at the city mortuary where the bodies were moved.

Kajiado County leaders led by Senator Peter Mositet, who visited the scene, termed the incident unfortunate and called for thorough investigations to avoid such incidents.

“The Ministry of Internal Security should act immediately to bring to book whoever is behind these criminal activities. This is a bizarre incident that should be thoroughly investigated,” said Mositet.

Meanwhile, police in Athi River and Kitengela in Machakos and Kajiado counties have said they will form a joint team to investigate a spate of killings that have rocked the regions.

Security agents from the two areas have differed over the motive of the murders.

Kajiado County Police Commander Titus Kilonzi said they met on Sunday at Athi River to resolve the differences. He said the team would help bring a truce over the differences.

Kajiado County Commissioner Albert Kobia Wakamau has maintained the killings have been as a result of land tussles on the side of Athi River.

However, the Athi River leaders and senior Government officials blame the killings on the proscribed Mungiki sect, whom they said carry out their activities in Kitengela.

On Sunday Maina Njenga, the former Mungiki leader, distanced himself from the matter saying it was a land issue involving some six rich business moguls in Kitengela and Athi River towns.