Kapenguria Horror: Cannibalism Suspects to Undergo Age Tests Before Trial

A court in Kitale has ordered the age verification of twelve suspects, some reportedly Ugandan nationals, implicated in a gruesome case of alleged murder and cannibalism in West Pokot County. 

The suspects are accused of abducting and consuming eight children, sparking widespread outrage and violent protests across the region. The case took a critical turn on Monday when the suspects appeared before Chief Magistrate Samuel Mokua. The court ruled that six of the suspects, believed to be juveniles, could not face trial until their ages are medically determined. 

These six are to undergo examinations at a public health facility and will be held at the Kitale Police Station's Children Protection Unit. The adult suspects are scheduled for a court mention on 21 July, while the minors will reappear on 9 July for further instructions. To date, none of the accused has entered a plea, as investigations continue.

The arrests followed a series of alarming events in Kapenguria, where residents have long been troubled by the unexplained disappearances of children. The situation escalated when the decomposing body of seven-year-old Brighton Kibet was discovered in a maize plantation last week. The corpse bore signs indicative of organ harvesting, fuelling fears of ritualistic killings. Subsequent police raids on the suspects' residences allegedly uncovered numerous children's belongings, including school uniforms, shoes, and exercise books, suggesting a pattern of targeting minors.

Police sources have identified the suspects as members of the Abagishu community who are believed to have been residing illegally along a road reserve in Bandera village. They have reportedly confessed to abducting, murdering, and consuming children over several years, actions that have plunged the region into grief and fury. One suspect remains at large, having reportedly crossed the border into Uganda.

In response to the gravity of the allegations, the West Pokot County Security Committee has initiated a comprehensive vetting process for all foreign nationals residing in the area. A committee member told the press, "We respect the spirit of East African cooperation; 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 committee has also ordered the demolition of all unauthorised structures on public land, particularly those occupied by foreign nationals in Bandera. "The prime suspects who have confessed to killing and eating their corpses 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," the official added.

The community's response has been immediate and intense. Thousands of residents staged demonstrations along the Kitale-Lodwar Road, blocking traffic and demanding that police release the suspects for mob justice. These protests turned violent, with homes linked to the suspects torched and threats made against Ugandan nationals living in the area. In light of this hostility and threats of retaliation, police transferred the suspects from Kapenguria to Kitale Police Station for their safety.

Investigating officer Edward Ndem has requested a 30-day detention period for the suspects, citing the complexity of the case and the need for thorough forensic analysis. Authorities are preparing to excavate a suspected dump site, believed to be a pit latrine used to dispose of human remains. However, the investigation faces significant challenges, including the destruction of potential evidence during the public unrest and the difficulty of cross-border coordination to apprehend the fugitive suspect.