A little over a year after the gruesome discovery of the corpses of members of the so-called 'fasting sect' of Shakahola, in the hinterland of Malindi, another terrible and disturbing case shakes Kenya: so far 14 mutilated bodies have been found in a quarry in the Nairobi suburb of Mukuru Kwa Njenga.

These are female bodies, the police have established after finding them in black rubbish bags, reported by citizens.

If in the case of the deviant cult of preacher Paul Mackenzie it was a matter of deaths caused by suggested and in some cases forced fasting 'in order to see Jesus in paradise before the Apocalypse', on these women's corpses the mystery is still thick.

The close timing of the recent anti-government protests had at first suggested extrajudicial killings committed by officers or police, but the leads being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are diverse, including potential links to cult activities, but also crimes committed by one or more serial killers, as well as illegal doctors' practices.

The police and related investigative agencies said it will take 21 days to unravel the mystery of the dismembered bodies found in the quarry that is part of the Kware landfill.

"You will realise that the modus operandi was almost the same. And if you look at the age, between 18 and 30, if you look at the gender, they are all women. If you look at the way the bodies were sliced and packaged, it's all the same," said DCI chief Mohamed Amin, hinting that the likelihood is linked to particular rituals or serial killers.

"We have deployed our best investigators, our homicide team which is one of the best and one that we as a country should be proud of. I am convinced that in the fullness of time we will address this issue. I ask for the patience and cooperation of the citizens," Amin added, urging the population to cooperate with the authorities, which is always very difficult in Kenya.