Autopsy reveals signs of strangulation, stabbing in Kitui shallow grave victims

A week after seven decomposed bodies were ferried from Mwingi in Kitui County to Nairobi’s City Mortuary, postmortem examinations have uncovered disturbing evidence of murder.

Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor confirmed that a severed head recovered separately from the bodies forced investigators to classify the remains as eight distinct victims.

Two of the eight bodies recovered showed clear signs of strangulation, while another victim had multiple stab wounds. Three others sustained severe head injuries, pointing to a brutal pattern of killings.

"We treated them as eight bodies because one had a detached head found separately. We found two who were strangled, three with head injuries, one with a stab wound to the abdomen, and two where the cause of death could not be ascertained due to advanced decomposition," said Dr. Oduor.

According to Dr. Oduor, the victims are believed to have met their deaths up to three months before their remains were discovered.

"Because of the varying levels of decomposition, it was difficult to estimate, but from a casual look I can say within the last three months," he explained.

The postmortem examinations further revealed that all the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, making visual identification impossible.

Investigators have therefore turned to DNA profiling, with samples already submitted to government laboratories in a bid to establish the identities of the victims.

"When bodies are so decomposed they all look alike. That’s why relatives of missing persons must provide DNA so comparisons can be done," stated Dr. Oduor.

Questions had emerged over the decision to transfer the bodies from Mwingi to Nairobi for postmortem examinations. But Dr. Oduor defended the move, citing inadequate mortuary infrastructure in Mwingi.

"Knowing the mortuary’s infrastructure and how difficult it would be to conduct autopsies there, we decided to do them in Nairobi. Afterwards, the bodies will be returned to Mwingi for preservation as relatives come forward," he noted.

Focus now shifts to detectives who must piece together the identities of the victims, establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths, and track down those responsible, even as human rights activists mount pressure on police, accusing them of failing in their duty to protect citizens.

"When William Ruto came into power, he promised an end to extrajudicial killings. But from this case and others like the quarry matter, it’s clear the trajectory remains the same as previous regimes. The postmortem results show these people were murdered. We cannot continue with such actions. Remember, after the 2024 protests, people went missing and to this day remain unaccounted for — some buried in unmarked graves, just like in Mwingi," said Vocal Africa activist Brian Olang.

The discovery of multiple human bodies in a suspected mass grave last week led to tensions in the area, with locals and leaders calling for swift action by the government.

The grim discovery on Monday has since sparked fears of a serial killer or a criminal syndicate operating in the area.

Detectives later arrived at the site in Mwingi town and cordoned off the area as forensic teams embarked on an exhumation exercise amid fears that more bodies could be buried there.

The search was triggered by the discovery of a dismembered body at the site on Monday, June 8.

The latest discovery comes barely a month after two other mutilated bodies, belonging to a man and a woman, were found in the same area. The woman’s head was missing.