This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
Since the launch of the Nairobi River Restoration Project in 2019, a total of 21 bodies have been retrieved from the river, including 16 infants and 5 adults.
On Monday morning, two more infant bodies were discovered in the Korogocho area by the Comb Green team, bringing the total number of infant bodies retrieved to 16.
According to Fredrick Okinda, leader of the clean-up team, one of the infant bodies was found wrapped in a polythene bag.
Okinda recounted the discovery: "One of our members spotted a bag floating in the river and when he opened it, he found the remains of an infant. Minutes later, we found another body of a girl around the same area,"
Kenyan authorities, including Governor Mike Sonko, are calling for increased vigilance to curb the dumping of foetuses in rivers and the rise in abortion cases in slum areas.
"The police have a big role to play. I know they have been working tirelessly to curb this vice but it is beginning to resurface. They will need to be more vigilant," Sonko said.
Children's rights organisations are urging mothers and women of child-bearing ages to seek counselling.
