Second Body Of The Missing Mlolongo 3 Found In City Mortuary

The body of Martin Mwau, one of the three men reported missing from Mlolongo, has been discovered at the City Mortuary in Nairobi.

This development comes just hours after the family of Justus Mutumwa identified his body at the same facility. It is believed that both bodies were dumped by the police after their discovery and had remained unidentified until now.

Mutumwa’s family lawyer, Dan Maanzo, confirmed that his body was found in Ruai on Wednesday night and later moved to the City Mortuary. “The family has confirmed that the body found in Ruai yesterday evening is indeed that of their kin, Justus Mutumwa,” Maanzo stated.

Speaking to the media outside Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, January 30, 2025, Maanzo added, “Petitioner number one, Justus Mutumwa, has been found, and his body is in the City Mortuary. A quick check of fingerprints has confirmed his identity, and he is the petitioner in this matter. This information came to light while court proceedings were ongoing. The police had specifically stated that these individuals were not in their custody and were not arrested by them.”

Maanzo emphasized the need for further investigation, saying, “It is the requirement of the law for the police to investigate and determine who abducted and killed these individuals. The responsibility solely rests with the police. Although the police have claimed that information is not forthcoming, I urge the public to share any relevant information with the authorities.”

He further noted, “The families of the abducted and deceased individuals have reported being given a difficult time by investigators when they approached the police. The story presented in court does not align with the reality. While the police have denied holding the bodies or the individuals, other state actors, agents, or criminals may be involved. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the police.”

The whereabouts of the third missing person, Kalani Mwema, remain unknown.

This revelation follows Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s denial that the three men—Kalani Mwema, Justus Mutumwa, and Martin Mwau—were in police custody. Appearing before Justice Chacha Mwita, Kanja insisted that the men were not being held in any police station, contradicting claims by petitioners. He also defended himself against accusations of defying court orders, despite being summoned multiple times without appearing.

The court was informed that Mutumwa and Mwau were abducted in December 2024 by individuals believed to be police officers. The two were reportedly riding a motorcycle, registration number KMGM 618R, on their way to Kitui for a business trip when they were ambushed on December 17.

The discovery of the bodies has raised serious questions about the police’s handling of the case and their earlier statements in court. Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), expressed disbelief at the situation, stating, “It’s quite alarming that the police had already discovered a body and were conducting investigations, yet they denied knowing the whereabouts of the three men. This either indicates a lack of coordination within the National Police Service or deliberate misinformation.”

A postmortem has been scheduled to determine the cause of the deaths, while investigations into the abduction and killings continue.