Four people who died in Shakahola forest buried in Malindi

Emotions were high at the Myeye area in Malindi town on Friday as a family that lost 8 members in the Shakahola forest tragedy buried four relatives whose bodies matched their DNA.

The four bodies were buried in one large grave divided into chambers in what the family described as a move to cut burial expenses.

Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi was the only elected leader at the burial.

The four were among 429 bodies that were lying at the Malindi sub-county hospital mortuary for the last eight months.

The four are said to have followed controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie who is alleged to have subjected them to fasting to their death to see Jesus.

The Four bodies were handed to the family on March 26 by the government after which they were preserved at the Star Hospital Mortuary ahead of burial Friday.

A GSU officer who quit his job to join Pastor Mackenzie together with his wife and children is said to be among the victims.

They also belong to the family of the whistleblowers of the Shakahola deaths.

Titus Ngonyo, the head of the family, who is believed to have lost his wife and son in the Shakahola tragedy was seen in a sombre mood as the ceremony went on at his home.

He is yet to know their whereabouts.

Those buried included 29-year-old Harry Ngonyo the ex-GSU officer who dumped the government job to join the movement,  his wife 35-year-old Emily Wanje, his mother 51-year-old Esther Masha and his five-year-old son Seith Ngala.

Sadly Ephraim the only survivor in the family who was rescued last minute was present and was seen with other children.

He was kept busy by relatives as the funeral service was going on.

The Malindi MP in her address questioned why top politicians and government officials failed to attend the burial.

She criticised the government for taking so long to conclude the investigations and asked the authorities to fast-track the process.

Mnyazi also wondered why only 34 bodies out of 429 were released.

The MP said she would table a statement in Parliament when they resume sittings to compel interior CS Kithure Kindiki to tell the nation what was going on.

Former Shella MCA Adamson Mwathethe said he had never seen such a burial of four people who died as a result of the teachings of "the man of God".