Distraught church leaders need counselling over cults — NCCK

NCCK Coast region leader Peter Mwero said the killings —  so far more than 200 —  have affected many church leaders and left them distraught..

“The community does not view this as a Paul Mackenzie issue but see it as a church issue. Most of us were not aware of what was going on in Shakahola until we saw the news in the media," he said.

"But everyone is pointing fingers at us. This is traumatisaing and we are also people and this has affected most of us,” he said.

He called on mental health experts to come forward and help in counselling religious leaders so that they can preach the word of God with a right mind.

Mwero further urged the commission of inquiry formed by the government to make sure they involve leaders from Kilifi in their investigation.

“The President has constituted a commission of inquiry to investigate the Shakahola issue. It was our prayer that he includes two or three people in the team especially from the ground so that they can help in the investigation," he said.

"If you listen to what the people are saying, then you will understand the matter needs a deeper investigation,” he said.

Exhumations resume tomorrow to give workers a rest.

Twenty-two bodies were exhumed bring the total number of bodies exhumed to at least 201.

So far, 26 people associated with Mackenzie have been arrested. Six hundred ten people have been reported missing, Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said.

Onyancha also said that 14 victims had been reunited with their families.

So far, 93 DNA  samples have been collected.

(Edited by V. Graham)