Activists call for accountability, re-arrest of escaped Kware murders suspect
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Five police officers have since been arraigned on charges of aiding the suspect's escape.
Activists in Nairobi are calling for the re-arrest of the main suspect in the Kware murders, Collins Jumaisi, who escaped from police custody in August 2024 and has never been traced.
The activists have also criticised the government for its handling of the case and its failure to identify all victims and notify their families, saying these issues have hindered justice for those affected.
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Speaking at a press conference held at Mukuru Community Justice Centre on Wednesday, the activists condemned what they described as lapses in the investigation and management of the case.
"The government has failed to identify all victims and reach out to their families. This might explain why there are so many unidentified bodies still at the City Mortuary," they stated, noting that out of the 18 bodies recovered from Kware, only six have been identified.
The bodies were discovered in July in the Kware area of Embakasi, Nairobi County.
The gruesome discovery led to the arrest of Jumaisi, whom police said had confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, between 2022 and 2024 and dumping their bodies.
However, in August, he escaped from the Gigiri Police Station along with 12 other detainees.
"The way the government handled this matter leaves doubts about whether these victims will ever receive justice," the activists said.
Five police officers have since been arraigned on charges of aiding the suspect's escape.
However, Jumaisi alleged in court that police tortured him and coerced him into confessing to the murders, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
Going further, the activists also highlighted concerns raised by the community about the possibility of more bodies remaining at the Kware dumpsite and urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation.
"We are urging the government to investigate reports from the community that there could be more bodies still undiscovered at the dumpsite," they said.
The Mukuru Community Justice Centre has also appealed for recognition and support for the young volunteers from the community who assisted in retrieving the bodies.
"Most of the retrieval work was done by local youths who are not professionally trained and who lacked protective equipment. The government should acknowledge and support these volunteers," they said.
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