Human Rights Groups, notably Haki Africa and Human Development Agenda (Huda) are demanding justice for four men whose bodies were discovered in Tsavo National Park.
A report by the Daily Nation on Monday, February 3, provided that the four had allegedly been picked up from Kwale County in November and December 2019 by officers who claimed to be attached to the Anti-terror Police Unit.
The bodies recovered on January 14, and 20, were identified as those of Juma Said Sarai, Khalfan Linuku Abdalla, Nassir Gatana and Usama Nassir.
A statement released by Haki Africa pronounced that the bodies showed signs of torture.
“The condition of the bodies exhibited signs of torture including burns, gagging and strangulation. Some had ropes and burnt nylon around their arms, legs and neck.”
The human rights group encompassing Huda and Haki Africa went on to call for a judicial inquiry.
“Huda and Haki Africa condemn the continued forceful disappearances and killings currently witnessed at the Coast of Kenya. It is disappointing that such violations are happening in modern-day Kenya. We call for the immediate set up of a judicial inquiry to investigate the killings and ensure the murderers are brought to justice.”
Haki has further asserted that between 2018 and 2019 they have on file, 56 cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances at the coast.
This claim may explain why an eerily similar case of bodies recovered in the Tsavo in March of 2019.
A report published by The Standard around the same period stated that police had found 6 decomposing bodies at Kanga area of the Tsavo National Park.
The bodies were discovered about a kilometre from the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway.
A source, speaking to The Standard, voiced the suspicion that the bodies had likely been murdered elsewhere and then subsequently dumped at the park.
The assertions made by the two human rights bodies rekindle memories of extrajudicial killings and torture under the administration of Kenya's second president, the late Daniel arap Moi.
