Shakahola massacre: Exhumation of bodies to resume Monday

The process had taken a two-week break to allow pathologists to conduct post-mortem examinations

In Summary
  • So far, 91 people including one who died in hospital have been rescued and 19 victims have already been reunited with their families.
  • A total of 93 DNA samples have been collected and 34 persons linked to the incident have been apprehended, including the cult leader Paul Mackenzie.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit and forensic experts retrieve bodies in Shakahola.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit and forensic experts retrieve bodies in Shakahola.
Image: HANDOUT

The third phase of the exhumation exercise in Shakahola forest, Kilifi county will begin resume on Monday, June 5.

Speaking on Sunday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the process had taken a two-week break to allow pathologists to conduct post-mortem examinations on the 129 bodies that had been exhumed.

“We have lost many people and exhumed 242 bodies so far, of people who were starved to death, hit with blunt and sharp objects or strangled,” he said.

The CS spoke during a church service at the Kenya Assemblies of God in Sagana, Kirinyaga.

So far, 91 people including one who died in hospital have been rescued and 19 victims have already been reunited with their families.

A total of 93 DNA samples have been collected and 34 persons linked to the incident have been apprehended, including the cult leader Paul Mackenzie.

CS Kindiki also warned rogue preachers, saying they will face the law. 

“We will never see something like that. Just the way we handle criminals hiding under Islam, we will equally deal with those hiding under Christianity. So that they do not stain the church,” he said.

He said that the government will also go after those hiding in other religions.

"All the crooks and criminals who are hiding in the church of Jesus Christ those who are hiding in other religions your time is up we will smoke you out," Kindiki said.

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