At least eight bodies have been found, but reports indicate there could be more as anger over the discovery grows.
Kenyan police have promised a “transparent” investigation into the discovery of eight mutilated women’s bodies dumped in an abandoned quarry in Mukuru, a cluster of shanty towns south of the capital Nairobi.
“The entire National Police Service and I understand the deep concern and distress that the tragedy brings to the families, the people of Kware and their fellow Kenyans,” Acting Police Commissioner Douglas Kanja said in an address to reporters on Sunday.
“We are committed to conducting transparent, thorough and expeditious investigations,” Kanja said, adding that transparency would extend to a post-mortem operation and that the media would be involved at all stages.
The announcement comes after the acting Inspector General of Kenya Police said officers from Kware police station had been transferred.
Investigations into the bodies, found dumped in plastic bags in a case that has rocked the country, are expected to be completed within three weeks, according to the acting police chief.
Police authorities said they were looking into possible links to cults, serial killers or corrupt doctors as part of their investigation.
President William Ruto is under increasing pressure to contain a national crisis that erupted following widespread anti-government protests.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome resigned on Friday amid protests that have left dozens of demonstrators dead. The announcement came a day after Ruto resigned. fired almost his entire cabinet in order to respond to the demands of the protesters.
Kenya’s police watchdog, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), said on Friday it was investigation to determine whether there was police intervention in the case of the mutilated bodies, noting that the dump site was only 100 meters (328 feet) from the police station.
The AFP news agency reported that in the absence of a police search on Sunday, volunteers were searching the huge piles of rubbish for new victims.
According to reports, residents tried to take a bag they had taken out of the quarry to the police station but were met with tear gas grenades.
