Kenya arrests 'serial killer' suspect over dumped bodies: police

Kenyan police said Monday they had arrested a "serial killer" suspect after the gruesome discovery of nine mutilated bodies in a Nairobi rubbish dump.

"We have this morning arrested a prime suspect," the head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin told reporters.

"We are dealing with a serial killer, a psychopathic serial killer who has no respect for human life."

"We have a second suspect who was caught with one of the handset from one of the victims," said Amin.

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the 33-year-old prime suspect had been arrested around 3:00 am local (0000 GMT) near a bar in a joint operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National police service.

He said a total of nine bodies had now been recovered so far and that autopsies on the victims would be carried out on Monday.

Since Friday mutilated and dismembered bodies --  trussed in plastic bags -- have been pulled from the rubbish heap in Mukuru slum area in the south of the capital, horrifying the country.

Police had said on Sunday the eight that had been recovered were all women.

Tensions ran high at the crime scene over the weekend, as furious residents were dispersed by police firing tear gas.

The discoveries have also thrown another spotlight on Kenyan police and added more pressure on President William Ruto, who is struggling to contain a crisis over widespread anti-government protests that saw dozens of demonstrators killed.