Security agencies have foiled a
suspected case of religious radicalisation in Binzaro Village, Chakama
Location, Langobaya Division, Kilifi County.
The team rescued four members of a
family from a farm where they had been staying for two months after going
missing from their home in Siaya, more than 800 kilometres away.
The area is located just a few kilometres
from Shakahola Forest, where more than 400 people were previously found
murdered and buried in shallow graves.
There are concerns that the teams may discover additional human remains at the new site.
Acting on a tip-off from members of
the public, security and intelligence officers conducted a swift operation
targeting a secluded five-acre homestead linked to suspicious religious
activity.
During the operation, four
individuals, a 50-year-old man who had been reported missing at Siaya Police
Station on April 15, 2025, his 40-year-old wife, and two females aged 40 and
19, were rescued from the compound.
According to police, preliminary
assessments indicate that the individuals may have been held under the
influence of radical teachings.
Tragically, police said two human
skulls and the freshly deceased body of an unidentified adult male were
discovered in nearby thickets.
The remains have been transferred to
Malindi Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for preservation, identification, and forensic
examination.
Police confirmed that a prime
suspect in the new case of radicalisation was arrested, along with three
individuals identified as the operational managers of the homestead.
Additionally, three other
individuals were detained in connection with the sale of the property to the
suspect, amid unresolved questions regarding the legality and transparency of
the ownership and transaction processes.
The latest developments evoke
memories of the Shakahola massacre, where more than 400 people were found
murdered and buried in shallow graves in the same area.
The Shakahola Forest incident, also
known as the Shakahola massacre, involved a religious cult led by Paul Nthenge
Mackenzie, founder of the Good News International Church.
Mackenzie and his 92 co-accused are
facing charges of radicalisation, engaging in criminal activity, and possession
of articles connected with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
In the latest incident, police said
investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the
acquisition, management, and use of the land parcel.
The Directorate of Criminal
Investigations (DCI) Malindi was granted continued protective custody of the
rescued individuals and has applied for warrants to conduct a more comprehensive
forensic search of the site.
The premises have since been secured
and documented by the Crime Scene Investigation team.
The teams plan to comb the compound
for possible discovery of more bodies, as was the case in Shakahola.
