Nairobi, July 15, 2024 – Police announced a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the gruesome murders of individuals whose bodies were found at the Kware dump site in the Mukuru slums of Nairobi.
Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin is scheduled to hold a press conference this morning to discuss the latest developments. Early Monday morning, a suspect was apprehended in Kayole, where he had been hiding. The suspect resides about 500 meters from the Kware dump site, where at least ten mutilated bodies of women have been discovered.
The suspect has reportedly confessed to the serial killings. One officer described him as a psychopath. The suspect was tracked to a house in Kayole, where officials claim he was attempting to lure another victim. A raid on the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of ten mobile phones, seven identity cards, ten SIM cards, a panga (machete), gloves, ropes, and several sacks similar to those found with the bodies at the dump site.
“We believe we have a key and prime suspect in the murder of people whose bodies have been found dumped in the Kware area,” said an officer involved in the investigation. Detectives from the DCI headquarters also traced money withdrawn from the latest victims’ accounts, further implicating the suspect.
This development is seen as a significant breakthrough in a case that has threatened the government’s credibility amid allegations of extrajudicial killings. A mobile phone belonging to one of the identified victims, Josephine Owino, was recovered from the suspect. Josephine went missing on June 26, and her body was later found stuffed in a sack at the dump site. Another victim, who went missing on June 28, has also been identified.
Josephine’s sister reported receiving a call from a man claiming to be with her, but Josephine never returned home. The process of identifying the other victims is ongoing, with autopsies planned for today at the City Mortuary.
As of Sunday, the bodies recovered and preserved at the City Mortuary were all females aged 18 to 30. Some of the body parts initially believed to be human were later identified as dog carcasses. Amin noted that the bodies were in various stages of decomposition, but all victims suffered similar fates.
“The modus operandi was almost the same. If you look at the age, it was between 18-30. These are all female. If you look at how the bodies have been disguised and packaged – all the same,” Amin said. He added that the bodies were dumped at the same spot at the dump site.
The DCI is currently pursuing three main theories regarding the killings. “Are we dealing with a cult that is associated with criminal activities? Are we dealing with serial killers that are also associated with criminal activities? Or even, could we be dealing with rogue medical practitioners who are involved in criminal activities? All these are hypotheses we have tried to bring on board,” Amin stated.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to uncover the full extent of the suspect’s actions and bring justice to the victims and their families.