Residents of Mwingi town in Kitui County remain on edge following the discovery of multiple human bodies buried in what investigators suspect could be a mass grave, raising fears of a possible serial killer or criminal syndicate operating in the area.
The chilling discovery has prompted an intensive police investigation, with detectives and forensic experts arriving at the scene on Tuesday to begin exhumation exercises amid concerns that more bodies could still be buried at the site.
The search operation was triggered after the discovery of a dismembered body on Monday.
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Investigators have since widened the search area, seeking to establish the number of victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The latest findings come barely a month after two mutilated bodies, belonging to a man and a woman, were recovered in the same locality. The female victim’s head was missing, further deepening concerns among residents.
Locals fear that the victims may have been murdered elsewhere before their bodies were dumped in Mwingi.
“There are bodies of people who have been killed and dumped here in our town. It is like people are being murdered elsewhere and their bodies brought here,” said Morris Kinyatta, a resident.
Another resident, Ndanu Kimanzi, expressed concern over the recurring incidents near Kasina Primary School.
“These incidents have been happening near Kasina Primary School, and as residents we are worried because last month other bodies were also found near the same area,” she said.
Kitui Woman Representative Irene Kasalu termed the discoveries alarming and called for urgent investigations to uncover those behind the killings.
“There is a body there and there are other spots where we do not know whether there are more bodies buried. In the last four weeks, this is the fourth body to be recovered here. These are very disturbing incidents,” Kasalu stated.
“Just the other day we lost a young woman and we still do not know what happened. Apart from the female body that we know about, the other bodies are yet to be identified,” she added.
Police have appealed to members of the public with missing relatives to report to the Mwingi Central Police Sub-County headquarters to assist with the identification process.
“All the bodies are naked and had been buried in separate graves. If anyone has a missing relative, please report to the police,” said Mwingi Central Police Commander Antony Maina.
The four bodies, which were found in different stages of decomposition, have been moved to Mwingi General Hospital Mortuary awaiting identification and postmortem examinations.
As investigations continue, residents are calling for enhanced security measures and swift action from authorities to restore confidence and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.