KENYA’S police watchdog said on Saturday that it is investigating whether there was any police involvement after nine badly mutilated bodies were discovered in an abandoned quarry in Mukuru, near Nairobi.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority said the nine bodies had been found less than 100 yards from Kware police station, south of the Kenyan capital.

In a statement, the watchdog said: “The bodies, wrapped in bags and secured by nylon ropes, had visible marks of torture and mutilation.” 

The authority added that, due to the location of the dumping site and “widespread allegations of police involvement in unlawful arrests [and] abductions,” it was undertaking a preliminary investigation to establish whether there was any police involvement.

It also called on the police to open “immediate and hastened forensic investigations” to identify the bodies.

Mukuru Community Justice Centre activist Miriam Nyamuita said most of the bodies that were found had decomposed.

“We don’t know if we can relate it to protests or it’s femicide, since most of them are women,” she added.

The non-governmental Kenya Human Rights Commission called for a “comprehensive investigation” to identify the cause of the deaths and those responsible.

In a post on the X social media platform the commission said: “The perpetrators must be held accountable” and the government “must take accountability for this heinous crime.”

Kenyan police have already been accused of using excessive force after dozens of people were attacked and killed by officers during massive anti-government demonstrations last month.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome was forced to resign over the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters.

The unrest was sparked by the government proposing tax rises in a new finance Bill. 

Even though President William Ruto withdrew the tax increases, protesters are demanding that he step down and that police be held accountable for their use of violence.