The government has ordered a fresh round of vetting for certain foreign nationals residing in West Pokot County over links to acts of cannibalism and organ harvesting.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 8, West Pokot County Commissioner Khalif Abdulahi said the County Security Committee had resolved to re-evaluate individuals from Burundi, Rwanda, the DRC and Uganda over the claims.
“The County Security Committee in its meeting has directed to vet all aliens from Burundi, Rwanda, the DRC, and the community of Wagisu from Uganda who have been suspected of cannibalism and harvesting of organs,” he said.
Abdulahi explained that the renewed vetting exercise would be carried out at the sub-county level to establish the foreigners' true identities and ascertain their activities in the region.
"They will be vetted afresh by the Sub-county Security Committee so that we know their intentions and activities they are involved in here in Kapenguria, Makutano and Bendera areas,” he added.
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Abdulahi said the move follows the confession of several individuals who allegedly admitted to engaging in cannibalistic practices.
These suspects are said to be living in makeshift structures along a road reserve in the Bandera area.
"The prime suspects who have confessed to killing and eating the corpses are living along a road reserve within Bendera. Today I have directed that this road reserve be reclaimed and we are going to flatten all those structures they were living in,” he stated.
On Sunday, July 6, police in Kapenguria arrested 12 suspects accused of abducting, killing, and eating children.
The suspects allegedly confessed to the gruesome acts, claiming responsibility for the murder and cannibalism of eight young boys.
The news sparked widespread outrage among local residents who blocked the Kapenguria–Lodwar highway, demanding justice.
They later proceeded to burn down homes associated with the suspects.
According to reports, police had found school uniforms, children's clothing, exercise books, and ropes in the suspects’ homes.
"It’s true they confessed to eating eight boys, but we are yet to find human remains to support the claims. We are preparing to excavate a toilet suspected to be used to dispose of bones and human body parts.
"We’ve detained the suspects. We also have intelligence that a prime suspect escaped to Uganda, and we are working with authorities to apprehend him,” West Pokot County Criminal Investigations Officer Daniel Musangi said.
