Nakuru families positively identify two bodies dumped in Soin

The two mutilated bodies that had been dumped in Soin, Nakuru County, have been positively identified by families.

Simon Yego, 45, and Collins Kipyatich, 22, are said to have been reported as missing after they were allegedly abducted by people believed to be police officers in Elgeyo Marakwet last week.

After a long search, the family found the bodies at Nakuru County Mortuary after they were collected in Soin.

“We have been looking for our kin since Friday until today when we came to Nakuru after we received reports that bodies of two unidentified males had been found around,” said Wifred Yego.

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Yego said that one of the deceased, Kipyatich, had on Friday morning gone to seek treatment for Malaria at Tot Health Centre, from where he was abducted by unknown men.

“In the evening, we were informed that our brother Simon had been abducted on the road. We reported the incidents at Tot Police Station the next day,” said Yego.

On the other hand, details on Simon’s abduction were revealed to the family by a woman who had been abducted with him and later released after brief questioning.

“My brother had a Probox, which he operated as a matatu. He had a female passenger from the village on board who told us that they were cut off on the road by an ambulance,” said Yego.

Simon and the woman were bundled into the ambulance where they were questioned on the murder of Catholic Priest Fr Allois Bett of St Mathias Mulumba Parish, who was shot dead by bandits last month.

“The woman told us that she was just a passenger and didn’t know Simon. She was released and informed the villagers of what she had witnessed,” said Yego.

The family says that the car tracking device has located the vehicle in Nairobi.

On Sunday morning, residents of Kapnyangale village in Soin ward along the border of Nakuru and Baringo counties woke up to a bizarre scene of mutilated bodies.

“We believe that this is the doing of the police. Why would they do this to our kin? If they suspected them of any crime, they should have arrested and presented him in court,” said Yego.

Evans Biwott, a brother to the late Kipyatich, described the killing as inhumane.

“Our security officers have lost humanity. Even after killing the two, they went ahead to chop off their hands at the wrist. The bodies also appear to have been dragged on the ground. What justifies this kind of torture?” said Biwott.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr Abdi Hassan said that he was aware of the discovered bodies, which he said were under investigation.

“There is a very serious investigation going on. Whether it is connected to any other incident, it is premature for me to comment on that because the investigations are still on,” said Dr Hassan.

An intense security operation has been going on in Elgeyo Marakwet County and other parts of the Kerio Valley region to weed out criminals engaging in banditry activities.

A special police unit is said to have been deployed to conduct targeted arrests, with the government confirming several arrests of people linked to banditry.

Following the rising insecurity, the Catholic Church closed down its missions, including Chesongoch Hospital, after non-local staff fled the area, claiming that they were being targeted and accused of being police informers in the ongoing crackdown.