Kenyan police have announced the arrest of a suspected serial killer who confessed to murdering 42 women, including his wife, and disposing of their dismembered bodies in a Nairobi garbage dump.

Since Friday, July 12, nine mutilated bodies wrapped in plastic bags have been recovered from the dump site in the Mukuru slum area south of the capital.

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja disclosed that the 33-year-old suspect, identified as Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, was apprehended around 3am on Monday, July 15, near a Nairobi bar where he had been watching the Euro 2024 final.

Mohamed Amin, the head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), described Khalusha as a ‘psychopathic serial killer’ who showed no regard for human life. Amin stated that Khalusha confessed to committing the murders between 2022 and last Thursday, July 11.

The suspect confessed to luring, killing, and disposing of 42 female bodies at the dump site, Amin said. “Regrettably, he claimed his first victim was his wife, whom he strangled before dismembering and dumping her body at the same location.”

Amin further revealed that Khalusha was tracked down through the analysis of a victim’s phone, leading to a joint operation by the DCI and national police that resulted in his arrest. At the time of his apprehension, Khalusha was allegedly in the process of luring another victim.

According to Amin, Khalusha admitted to having sexual relations with some of his victims. Police searching Khalusha’s residence, located just 100 meters from the dump site, discovered incriminating items including a machete, nylon sacks, rope, industrial rubber gloves, a pink female handbag, and female underwear.

It was learned that autopsies on the victims found thus far were scheduled for Monday, July15, with eight confirmed to be female.

A second suspect was also arrested for possession of a phone belonging to one of the victims, Amin disclosed.

The discoveries have intensified scrutiny on Kenyan police and added pressure on President William Ruto, who faces widespread protests over government policies that have resulted in numerous deaths.

Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is investigating possible police involvement in the case, as the dump site is near a police station. Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is also looking into whether there was a failure to prevent the gruesome killings.

Following the recent protest related violence, Kanja, who assumed office a week ago, announced the transfer of all officers from the police post near the dump site.

Tensions at the crime scene escalated over the weekend as volunteers sifted through the vast piles of rubbish in search of additional victims. There was brief unrest when individuals attempted to take a bag they had retrieved from the pit to the police station and were met with teargas.

Kenyan police frequently face accusations from rights groups of employing excessive force, carrying out extrajudicial killing, or operating death squads, yet few have been held accountable.