Police have exhumed the body of a woman from a shallow grave in Mokoiywet village in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia county.

The body was discovered after detectives arrested three suspected members of a gang linked to a spate of robberies and killings in Kiminini.

Detectives investigating the killings say the woman is believed to have been the girlfriend of one of the suspects.

According to police reports, the officers were tracing the phone of a bodaboda rider who was killed, his phone and motorbike stolen. That search led them to this home where they apprehended two suspects.

“Alipatikana kwa lami amelala kando, this week tu, mikono iko nje simu na boda imeenda. Hio kiitu tuna connect na hao majamaa juu haijapita siku nyingi,” said Kelvin Malande, a resident.

Wilson Lagat, the father to the deceased rider added, “Na kuna vitu ambayo walienda nazo nadhani ilisaidia pia polisi kuweza kufuatilia ndio wakaweza kupata hao watu ambao walifanya hicho kitendo na walipopatikana walipatinana na vitu vya marehemu, simu, pikipiki, kitambulisho na kadi ya bank.”

“So far I think we have about two cases linked to the suspects and we are yet to find out more if they are involved in other murders which have been in this county,” Trans Nzoia DCI Paul Songok added.

On arrival at the dilapidated home, police recovered the stolen phone, motorbike, and identification documents. As fate would have it, they also stumbled upon a shallow grave, prompting them to seek court orders to exhume the body.

“The body we exhumed belongs to a middle-aged person. We are yet to find out the relationship between the late and the suspects. We have three suspects in custody and expect to make more arrests in the coming days,” noted Sangok.

The residents are accusing security agencies of failing to safeguard them and their properties, lamenting that they have been subjected to increased attacks and robberies that have left behind deaths and injuries.

They accused the judiciary of releasing criminals whenever police present them in court.

“Ilikua ni jumamosi asubuhi tukasikia majambazi wameshikwa na walikua wamekomboa hapa nyumba na vile tunaishi hii area hatujawahi waona,” stated a resident Samuel Makokha.

“Serikali imefanya juhudi hawa wakapatikana. Lakini shida tuko nayo, tungepata haki yetu kama mahakama ingefanya kazi yao. Watu wengi wanafanya hivo na dakika ya mwisho unawaona kijijini wakitembea ndio maana unaoona ujabazi imezidi juu ya utepetevu ya koti,” Lagat added.

In the last two weeks, residents here say five people have been killed by suspected gangs who target mainly bodaboda riders and they are now calling on DCI to track down and arrest the remaining members of the killer gang.