Police in Eldoret are investigating a chilling incident in which a man received a parcel containing three severed human fingers and six live bullets, Friday, Aug. 8.
Authorities say the package arrived via a motorcycle courier after the intended recipient was contacted by an unidentified caller claiming to have something for him.
The man, who was in a bar at the time, gave his location to the caller, who then dispatched a rider to deliver the parcel.
When the rider arrived, the man collected the envelope and opened it immediately — only to be met with a grisly discovery: a forefinger, a ring finger, and a little finger, all from a left hand, tied together alongside four 7.62mm and two 9mm live bullets.
There was no note or message inside.The man raised an alarm, prompting bystanders to alert police. Officers who arrived at the scene took the fingers to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Mortuary for verification and preserved the bullets for ballistic testing.
Police seeking sender and motive
Eldoret Central Police have questioned the motorcycle rider, who told investigators he had been hired by an unknown man to deliver the parcel.
The suspect’s phone has since been switched off, making it difficult for police to trace him.
Authorities have not determined the motive for the incident and are working to identify the victim from whom the fingers were taken.
Police are collecting fingerprints from the severed digits for forensic analysis.
“This is an unusual and deeply disturbing case,” one officer at the scene said. “Our priority is to establish who the victim is and to track down whoever sent this parcel.”
Public concern and security measures
The incident has sparked public concern in Eldoret, a busy commercial town in western Kenya.
Residents expressed shock, with some saying they fear it may be linked to intimidation or a gang-related dispute.
Police have appealed to the public to provide any information that could assist in identifying the sender or the possible victim.
They have also increased surveillance in the area and are urging people to be cautious when receiving parcels from unknown senders.
Forensic examination underway
According to investigators, the bullets — four of the 7.62mm caliber and two 9mm rounds — are undergoing ballistic tests to determine if they can be linked to other crimes.
Forensic teams are also working to extract viable fingerprints from the severed fingers in hopes of matching them to national identification records.
Police say the results of these tests will be critical to advancing the investigation.
“Every piece of evidence matters here. We are treating this as both a potential homicide and a serious threat case,” an officer familiar with the probe said.
Ongoing investigation
As of Monday, no arrests had been made. Police continue to follow leads from the rider’s statement and are reviewing nearby CCTV footage to trace the parcel’s origin.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the incident could be linked to a criminal warning or a personal grudge.
Meanwhile, the man who received the parcel is under police protection as investigations proceed.
“Harder This is a case that will require thorough forensic work and community cooperation,” police stated, adding that further updates will be provided once laboratory results are available.
