The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) of Kenya has launched an investigation into the potential involvement of police officers following the grim discovery of mutilated bodies in a Nairobi dumpsite.
On Friday, approximately ten bodies were found in Mukuru, a slum in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Local youth discovered the bodies near a police station, wrapped in plastic bags. The discovery was reported by Gaëlle Laleix, a correspondent based in Nairobi.
The death toll may rise as police searches were halted in the late afternoon due to protests from Mukuru residents, who were dispersed with tear gas.
Two weeks ago, protests against a proposed finance bill were met with violent repression by law enforcement. Following these events, Japhet Koome, the National Police Chief, resigned. His resignation was announced yesterday by the presidential spokesperson.
The sight of bodies wrapped in plastic bags evokes the harrowing memory of the Yala River incident. Last March, around forty bodies were found similarly wrapped along the river. Human rights organizations suspected these were victims of extrajudicial executions.
IPOA is also investigating allegations of kidnappings and illegal arrests of protesters who went missing after widespread anti-government demonstrations, according to AFP reports.
This investigation marks a crucial moment in Kenya’s ongoing struggle with police accountability and human rights issues. The outcome will likely have significant implications for both the local community and the broader national context.