The County Security Committee in West Pokot has launched vetting process of all foreign nationals visiting the county following revelations linking some foreigners to cases of cannibalism and organ harvesting.
Addressing a press briefing at his office on Monday July 7, 2025, West Pokot County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif, flanked by senior security officials, said that the vetting is to understand the intentions of the foreigners visiting the county.
The move comes after the arrest of a group of foreigners believed to be involved in acts of cannibalism and harvesting human organs in the county.
He added that the suspects are coming from the neighbouring Uganda.
"We respect the spirit of East African cooperation; we have free movement for our people; however, all suspects are from Uganda, and therefore, we're taking these stern measures to establish their stay here and the activities they are involved in," the commissioner said.
He added that the prime suspects are living along a road reserve within Bandera village and issued a directive for the immediate abolition of all structures where foreigners were living on the road reserves and reclaimed land.
"The prime suspects who have confessed to killing and eating the [corpses of their victims] were living along a road reserve within Bandera. Today I've directed this road reserve to be reclaimed, and we're going to flatten all those structures they were living in within Bandera by close of business today," Khalif said.
The suspects had confessed that at least eight children were killed and they ate their flesh.
This come after several reports of the mysterious disappearance of children and members of the public tormented the community.
It is reported that several clothe items including uniforms belonging to the missing children were found even as the identification of the victims continues.
On Monday, July 7, the Kitale High Court ordered that the suspects be held for 21 more days to allow investigators complete investigations.
The court also stated that suspects could not stand trial until their ages were ascertained, since among the suspects are six are suspected to be minors.
Khalif revealed that the suspected crimes could be dating back to 2024.
“We believe some of the victims may have gone missing around that time,” he said. “We are committed to accounting for every missing child and adult. No life is insignificant.”
He added that confessions made by some of the suspects have provided crucial leads into the whereabouts of reportedmissing persons.
