A bound and mutilated body found dumped in a river outside Kenya's capital Nairobi was identified today as that of a Kenyan lawyer who disappeared last week after challenging police in court.
A corpse believed to be that of young lawyer Willie Kimani was found late Thursday wrapped in a sack and floating in the Ol Donyo Sabuk river.
His wrists were bound with rope, some his fingers chopped off and his eyes appeared to have been gouged out. The cause of death has not yet been declared.
Kenyan authorities announced today an order for the arrest of three police officers in connection with the case.
The president of the national lawyers' association the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) said it was "a dark day for the rule of law in Kenya".
"Our worst fears are confirmed. Advocates and citizens are at risk of elimination by police death squads," said Isaac Okero.
The body was identified by friend and fellow lawyer Duncan Kinuthia.
"I was in school with Willie Kimani, he was my senior and having known him for long, I can say that he is the one," Kinuthia said after visiting the mortuary. Family members were expected to formally identify the body later today.
Kimani's body was found alongside another -- similarly bound and wrapped -- believed to be that of his client Josephat Mwendwa while a third body, thought to be their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri, was recovered today afternoon.
"The bodies are in a very bad state and it seems they were tortured a lot before they were killed," said Kinuthia.
Kimani disappeared on June 23 along with Mwenda and Muiruri after attending a court hearing at Makovo Law Courts on the outskirts of the capital.
The case accuses local police of harassing and intimidating Mwenda in a bid to have him withdraw a complaint against a senior officer with the local Administration Police unit who he says shot him without provocation during a traffic stop in April 2015.
