11 bodies from River Yala positively identified

At least eleven of the twenty-seven bodies retrieved from River Yala have been positively identified by family members so far.

Four of the eleven bodies were identified as missing members of the local community.

According to Gem Deputy County Commissioner Mosero Chacha, the government has applied to have the court approve the burial of the remaining bodies.

“Based on DNA profiling and nasal swabs from relatives who were around 87, 11 were identified and released to their families,” he said on Monday.

Speaking on a local TV station, police spokesman Bruno Shioso noted that post mortem results indicated that some victims died of natural causes, some from drowning, among others.

He disputed earlier reports that the 27 bodies had all been recovered from the river, insisting that only a few had been collected from the river.

“Even the issue of all bodies tied in sacks, it is true some were but not all, just a few. That is why I’m saying when you look at the findings of all post mortem done on the 27 bodies, they give a proper direction to follow for each of the bodies,” he said.

Shioso urged the public to remain calm as the multi-agency team of experts conclude investigations.

Police in January launched investigations to establish the mystery around bodies dumped in River Yala in Siaya county.

Residents living along the river banks had raised concerns over the increasing number of unidentified bodies retrieved from the river.