Emotions ran high as relatives and friends of two men whose mutilated bodies were recently found dumped by the roadside in Menengai, Nakuru County, identified them at the Nakuru County Mortuary. The grim discovery has left families in mourning and raised serious questions about the circumstances leading to the deaths.
The two victims, identified as Simon Yego, aged 45, and Collins Kipyatich, aged 22, were discovered on May 31 along the Mogotio-Kipkitur road in Kinoyo village. The condition of the bodies shocked many both were found naked, with their arms severed and multiple injuries indicating they had been brutally tortured. Authorities believe the two were killed elsewhere and dumped at the scene.
The families of the deceased allege that the men were abducted by individuals suspected to be security officers on May 30 in Tot, a town in Elgeyo Marakwet County. According to relatives, Yego and Kipyatich were last seen in the company of individuals who appeared to be part of a security operation in the area. Their sudden disappearance and the state in which their bodies were found have fueled suspicions that the deaths may be linked to the ongoing security crackdown in the region.
Elgeyo Marakwet has been the focus of intensified security operations under the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu. The initiative, which targets armed criminal gangs in several counties, was launched in response to rising insecurity in the region. The recent killing of Catholic priest Allois Bett in Tot town heightened the urgency of the operation. Security officials suspect that criminal gangs are responsible for the priest’s murder, although some locals believe he may have been targeted because he was not a native of the area.
Following the killing of the priest, the government deployed additional security personnel to Elgeyo Marakwet. Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the priest’s murder. As investigations continue, residents in the region are expressing growing fear over the direction the operations are taking. Many worry that innocent individuals could be targeted or harmed under the pretext of fighting crime.
The deaths of Yego and Kipyatich have only deepened these fears. The families of the deceased are demanding answers and justice, insisting that their loved ones were victims of extrajudicial killings. At the mortuary, grief-stricken relatives were inconsolable as they viewed the bodies, which bore signs of extreme violence. The horrific nature of the killings has sparked calls for a transparent and independent investigation into the incident.
Police have launched a formal investigation to determine the motive behind the murders and identify those responsible. The bodies have been preserved at the mortuary pending autopsy and further forensic examination. While authorities have not confirmed the involvement of security personnel, they have acknowledged that the area remains volatile due to ongoing efforts to root out armed groups.
Community leaders and human rights activists are urging the government to ensure that security operations do not violate the rights of civilians. They stress the need for accountability and lawful conduct by all officers involved in the operation. As the country watches closely, the deaths of Simon Yego and Collins Kipyatich serve as a painful reminder of the human cost that can accompany aggressive security crackdowns.
Calls for justice continue to grow as families await answers and closure.
