Gruesome killings that follow familiar pattern

Since April last year, at least 30 people who had cases pending in court or were under investigations have been killed in mysterious circumstances.

The manner of killings has been distinctive, and bears the hallmarks of the work of an organised group.

Though some of the victims have been abducted in broad daylight, investigations into the killings have not revealed much.

Among the recent cases is the June 8 murder of businessman and former MCA aspirant Dennis Mbae Mutegi who was shot 17 times in Embu Town. 

He had in 2019 been charged with trafficking 13kg of bhang worth Sh260,000, and was also on detectives’ radar over his alleged involvement in other crimes.

Mchele gang

In another case early this month, two bodies, which are yet to be identified, were retrieved from River Tana in Embu County. Mbeere South OCPD Gregory Mutiso said they had been strangled and dumped in the river.

“We have taken the fingerprints from the victims for analysis to establish their identities,” he said.

Around the same time Samuel Mugo Muvota was shot dead at Mirema Drive in Kasarani. Muvota was also being investigated over his involvement in crime, including heading a gang that administered stupefying drugs on bar patrons and stealing from them.

Investigations reveal that at least five of people whose bodies have been found dumped in River Yala, Siaya County, had had a brush with the law, with some of them charged in court with serious offences like robbery.

On April 19, last year, four men – Brian Oduor, Elly Obuong, Benjamin Amache Imbai, and Jack Ochieng Anyago – were also abducted at Enkare Club in Kitengela. Their bodies were later found dumped in rivers.

Some of the members of this group, which included a former convict who had served an eight-year jail term, were involved in criminal activities.