NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government has launched a high-stakes crackdown in West Pokot County, targeting foreign nationals over deeply disturbing allegations of cannibalism and human organ harvesting.
In a press briefing Tuesday, West Pokot County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi confirmed that 13 suspects—all foreign nationals from Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda’s Wagisu community—had been arrested in connection with what he called a “hideous crime.”
And the government isn’t stopping there.
Following an emergency meeting of the county security committee, authorities have now ordered a comprehensive vetting of all foreign nationals from the mentioned countries and communities currently living in Kapenguria, Makutano, and Bendera.
“The county security committee has directed that all aliens be vetted afresh,” Abdullahi stated. “We want to understand their intentions here, especially after what we’ve uncovered.”
What they uncovered is straight out of a nightmare. According to Abdullahi, some of the prime suspects confessed to not only killing but consuming human corpses.
These individuals had reportedly been living illegally on public land in Bendera, setting up informal shelters on road reserves. That land is now being reclaimed.
“I have directed that this road reserve be flattened by close of business today,” he announced. “We cannot allow such activity to continue under our noses.”
The government insists that this operation is not a breach of East African Community (EAC) cooperation protocols, which allow for free movement of people within member states.
But Abdullahi was firm: national security trumps regional agreements when crimes of this magnitude are involved.
“We respect East African cooperation,” he said. “However, these suspects—most of them from Uganda’s Wagisu community—are under investigation for crimes that shock the conscience. That’s not something we can overlook.”
And tensions are rising. Abdullahi revealed that police had foiled a planned mob attack by a group of youth allegedly preparing to storm Kapenguria Police Station. Their goal? Free the suspects and burn the station down.
Authorities moved quickly to prevent the attack, and Abdullahi had a clear warning for anyone thinking of stirring the pot.
“Police stations are public infrastructure, built with your taxes,” he said. “We will not tolerate incitement, especially from politicians. If we find evidence of that, expect prosecutions.”
The Commissioner confirmed that a 21-day detention order has been granted by the courts to allow investigators to finish building their case. He also said that substantial evidence had already been collected to support charges against the suspects.
In a county already juggling fragile intercommunal relations and border concerns, this latest case has ignited serious questions about illegal immigration, national security, and public safety.
Whether this turns into a model for cross-border crime enforcement or spirals into a regional diplomatic issue may depend on how fast the truth comes out — and how transparently the government handles what could be one of Kenya’s most bizarre and troubling criminal investigations in recent history.
