Pathologists to conduct postmoterm on Kilifi cult bodies

The bodies are in different mortuaries within Kilifi.

In Summary

•The cult leader was arrested on April 14 following a tip-off that suggested the existence of shallow graves containing the bodies of some of his followers. 

•Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in the Chakama Ranch area.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit lay bodies of people believed to be followers of controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola Magarini as exhuming process entered day three on April 23, 2023.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit lay bodies of people believed to be followers of controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola Magarini as exhuming process entered day three on April 23, 2023.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI

The government will on Thursday start conducting a postmortem on the bodies exhumed from the Shakahola forest in Kilifi.

This follows a directive by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji earlier this week.

The Kilifi cult death toll hit 90 after seven more bodies were exhumed including that of a child found in one grave on Tuesday afternoon. 

On Tuesday alone, 17 bodies were exhumed from a gravesite in Shakahola village, Kilifi, where followers of Mackenzie are believed to have been buried.

The bodies are in different mortuaries within Kilifi.

Pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge of the Good News International Church is said to have instructed members to starve themselves to "meet Jesus".

Homicide detectives have since last week been searching for graves on the 800 acres belonging to Mackenzie.

The cult leader was arrested on April 14 following a tip-off that suggested the existence of shallow graves containing the bodies of some of his followers. 

Police on Tuesday rescued two women who were severely malnourished and appeared to be on the brink of death.

The number of bodies exhumed is expected to rise putting into consideration the vastness of the site, and no one has a definite time frame on when the massacre started plus the burial.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in the Chakama Ranch area.

The government has also deployed more security personnel to comb through the vast Shakahola forest to rescue any remaining followers of controversial televangelist Paul Mackenzie who could still be alive.

"Curfew orders have also been declared and Gazetted within the said area between 1800 hours in the evening up to and until 0600 hours in the morning for 30 days," Kindiki said on Wednesday.

This means that there shall be no public gatherings, processions or movement either alone or as a group during the period of curfew into and out of Chakama Ranch.

The only movement which will be allowed, according to Kindiki, will be permitted, in writing, by the Kilifi county police commander in consultation with the operation commander.

The area measuring 20,418 hectares and situated in Lango Baya division, Malindi sub-county, Kilifi, was on Tuesday declared a disturbed area by the CS.

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