Five bodies found dumped in forest

Five bodies were on Thursday found dumped at Tagwa forest in Kieni East district, Nyeri County.

The  bodies of four men had gunshot wounds on their heads, while the woman’s was found dangling from a tree.

According to those who saw the bodies, the victims seemed to be in their mid-20s and their identities could not be established.

Naromoru Ward Representative Rinyiru Marete, who was among the first people to arrive at the scene, said the bodies were found about 50 metres from the road connecting Chaka trading centre and Karatina town, a few kilometres from Sagana State Lodge.

“The woman’s body was found dangling from a tree, while the other four bodies, all male, had gunshot wounds on their skulls,” said Mr Marete.

Kieni East OCPD Ancent Kaloki said a herder informed them about the bodies inside the forest.

The herder informed the area chief who later called the police at around 12.30pm.

APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN EXECUTED

According to their preliminary investigations from the bloodstains on the bodies, he said, the men appeared to have been executed.

“When we looked at the entry point of the bullets in their heads and the way we found the bodies at the scene, it indicates the men were shot lying down facing downwards,” said the OCPD.

He, however, said the woman might have been killed elsewhere and her body dragged since her clothes were muddy and her body positioned in a manner to suggest that she had hanged herself.

Mr Kaloki said there were no cartridges at the scene apart from one bullet head which was recovered next to one of the bodies.

The police boss said they found no identification papers on the bodies apart from a bus ticket, which indicated that the victims had travelled from Nairobi to Nyeri the previous day.

He said the victims had money in their pockets.

Mr Kaloki said they were investigating the killings.

The incident comes barely a week after a commuter was killed and three others sustained injuries following an attack by a gang on the same road, a few metres from Thursday’s scene.

The incident occurred after the gang sprayed a matatu they were travelling with bullets last Thursday evening.

The criminals, who were armed with an AK47 riffle, are said to have shot severally at the ill-fated matatu in an apparent carjacking incident.

The injured were admitted to Karatina District Hospital.

Residents have asked police to conduct regular patrols in the area.