• Muhuri rights says government should form task force to investigate disappearances and extrajudicial killings
Image: Andrew Kasuku
A lobby group has called on the government to open a public inquest into enforced disappearances in Isiolo, Garissa and Coast regions after six bodies were discovered in Tsavo West National park on Tuesday.
Francis Auma, Muslim for Human rights rapid response officer, said the government should form a task force to unearth the cause of disappearances and extrajudicial killings, which are on the rise.
“These are not new cases. We have been appealing for this for quite a long time. The government should move with speed and open an inquiry to end this crime and bring to book those involved,” Auma told the Star yesterday.
Auma accused the Kenya Police Service of being involved, saying the record of those people who have disappeared while in their custody is growing.
On Tuesday, two Kenya Wildlife rangers on patrol discovered six decomposing naked bodies in the Kanga area, Tsavo West National Park.
Makueni county commissioner Maalim Mohammed said the bodies were likely to have been ferried from other places and dumped in the park. They have not been identified
He didn't divulge more information, saying the matter is under investigations by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
But speaking from Morocco where he is on official duty, KWS spokesperson Paul Nyongesa said they have referred the matter to the police and that it was no longer in their hands.
Makueni county police commander Joseph Napeiyan was not available for comment as he didn’t return calls or respond to messages.
Kibwezi OCPD Ben Changulo said the bodies were moved to City mortuary since the tiny facility at Makindu Subcounty Hospital could not accommodate them.
Abdi Godana, whose 32-year-old brother disappeared on March 12 while in Isiolo town, went to Makindu to find out whether his kin is among the discovered bodies. He was informed that the bodies had been taken to the City mortuary.
Auma said Muhuri will facilitate families whose members have disappeared to the facility to identify the bodies.
“We are making arrangements for the families whose members disappeared recently to visit the facility for DNA test. We have already talked to the Independent Medico-legal Unit, who will conduct the test,” Auma said.
According to the official, 13 disappearance cases have been reported in Garissa county this year.
He said most of the victims are discovered between Makueni and Taita Taveta counties because of the vast bushy area.
In December 2014, the body of ICC witness Meshack Yembei was discovered in the Tsavo National park
The badly mutilated body of Muslim Cleric Samir Khan was discovered in Tsavo National Park in April 2012 after he was abducted while traveling in a public vehicle with a friend, who is also missing to date.