Gov’t orders fresh vetting of Burundi, Rwanda nationals over cannibalism in West Pokot

The government has launched a fresh crackdown targeting foreign nationals from Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda’s Wagisu community residing in West Pokot County, over suspected involvement in cannibalism and human organ harvesting.

Addressing the press on Tuesday afternoon, West Pokot County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi said the decision was arrived at following a security committee meeting held in the county after 13 suspects were arrested in connection with cannibalism and organ harvesting in West Pokot

“The county security committee in its meeting has directed to vet all aliens from Burundi, Rwanda, Congo and the Wagisu Community who are all suspected to have been involved in this hideous crime of cannibalism and harvesting of human organs,” he stated.

“To be vetted afresh by the sub-county security committee so that we know their intentions here in Kapenguria, Makutano and Bendera areas.”

While affirming Kenya’s commitment to regional cooperation under the East African Community, Abdullahi maintained that the government would not compromise on national security.

“We respect the spirit of East African cooperation — we have free movement of our people — however, all suspects are from Uganda, from one community of Wagisu, and therefore we are taking these staunch measures to establish their stay here and their activities,” he said.

The County Commissioner revealed that prime suspects, who reportedly confessed to killing and consuming corpses, had been living illegally along a road reserve in Bendera.

He therefore committed to ensure the land would be reclaimed back to the government immediately.

“The prime suspects who have confessed to killing and eating the corpses were living along a road reserve within Bendera and today I have directed that this road reserve be reclaimed. We are going to flatten all those structures they were living in within Bendera by the close of business today,” he said.

Abdullahi further disclosed that police had foiled an attempted mob attack by youths allegedly planning to storm Kapenguria Police Station to free the suspects and torch the facility.

“We have also thwarted attempts by youths who had planned to march to Kapenguria Police Station to free and release the suspected cannibals and to torch the station. We want to caution all the youths planning these criminal activities of torching a police station; these are public utilities constructed by your taxes,” Abdullahi noted.

“The police station had nothing to do with the crimes committed by these suspects. I want to urge and caution all politicians who are inciting the youths to violence — we are going to prosecute them.”

Abdullahi assured the public that investigations were ongoing and that authorities had gathered sufficient evidence to secure convictions.

He said the court has already granted the prosecution 21 days to detain the suspects pending the conclusion of investigations.