Kilifi DG defends county as fury over Shakahola deaths rages

Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Mbetsa Chibule has defended the county administration over claims it has not done enough to help victims of Paul Mackenzie-led cult.

Chebule says the local administration was not receiving briefs that could have enabled it to meaningfully take part in the efforts to prevent the radicalization.

"Our governor Gideon Mung'aro doesn't sit in the county security team and does not get any briefs on local intelligence. It is misplaced to blame him," she said.

She said the pastor's tendencies had come to light way back in 2019 and even saw local leaders lock horns with him but it is not clear how the security agents let him be.

She also said the local administration has availed significant support and resources to the security operation that are going on in Shakahol, including body bags, food for security personnel and tents used in the efforts.

This comes as the exhumation process continues with officials expecting to find more bodies in the expansive forest.

On Monday, 26 more bodies were found in shallow graves in the area.

This increased the number of deaths attributed to the cult to 73, police said.

The total number of those exhumed since Friday, April 21, is 65 while eight died while in hospital.

Police also rescued nine people on Monday, with five of them being in critical condition.

The exhumation exercise on the 800-acre land belonging to the cult leader Paul Mackenzie was suspended on Monday due to bad weather and resumed on Tuesday, police said.

Mackenzie, who is in police custody, is being investigated for influencing his followers to starve to death in order to meet their maker.

Many leaders have blamed the government and local administration for failing to curb the menace.