The National Police Service (NPS) has dismissed reports circulating on social media platforms and the mainstream media that Justus Mutumwa, one of the Mlolongo abductees, was found dead yesterday.
The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Thursday evening clarified that on December 18, 2024, police officers were alerted of a body floating at the Nairobi River in the Ruai area.
According to the police boss, the body was identified by a lady who had gone to irrigate her vegetables planted near the river.
Oblivious to the mysterious discovery, Mutumwa’s family filed a report about their missing kin at the Athi River Police Station on December 21, three days after his alleged disappearance.
Kanja revealed that Mutumwa’s body remained unidentified until yesterday when forensic investigations revealed that the body which had been ferried to the city mortuary was indeed that of the deceased.
While clarifying the matter, IG Kanja termed the media reports suggesting that Mutumwa’s body was first discovered yesterday as inaccurate and misleading.
The police boss went ahead to assure Kenyans of the National Police Service’s commitment to investigating all cases of abductions in the country.
“The National Police Service reassures the public of its commitment to a thorough investigation of all Missing Persons reports and the public is equally urged to share any information they may have using the toll-free lines: 999; 911; 112 and Fichua kwa DCI,?” Kanja noted.
IG Kanja’s statement came hours after reports emerged that two of the Mlolongo abductees had been found dead at the Nairobi Funeral Home.
According to the reports, the bodies of Mutumwa and Martin Mwau were positively identified by their family members after more than six weeks of searching.
The puzzling discoveries came amidst repeated denials by the national police service including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) regarding the whereabouts of the abductees.
Their disappearance on December 15 also saw the High Court summon DCI boss Mohamed Amin and IG Kanja to explain the whereabouts of the four.