Mass grave: 18 bodies exhumed in Kilifi church cult

This now brings the total number of bodies exhumed so far to 39.

In Summary
  • The majority of those exhumed are children and women and appeared to have been buried.
  • Some of the bodies look fresh and are believed they died two weeks ago.
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

Eighteen more bodies of people believed to be followers of Malindi's controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie have been retrieved as the exhuming process entered day three on Sunday.

This now brings the total number of bodies exhumed so far to 39.

The majority of those exhumed are children and women and appeared to have been buried.

Some of the bodies look fresh and are believed they died two weeks ago.

One of the experts said there could be many mass graves within the 800 acres.

A security officer said the controversial preacher claimed that if they were looking for those who 'went to heaven' then there could be over 1000.

Detectives marked 58 graves believed to be of followers of Mackenzie who starved to death and were buried in shallow graves.

Some of the graves have two or three people and it is believed they are family members.

Top regional police commander and Cipu commander in charge of Coast visited the scene and held a meeting before witnessing the process being led by the Homicide Unit together with Forensic Experts, DCI and government pathologists.

The senior security officials did not address the media but before they left security officers were dispatched into the forest with residents and chiefs to do an operation.

Locals leaders and human rights activists at the scene called on the government to dispatch drones and helicopters to help in aerial surveillance.

Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid said the situation on the ground requires more machinery including aerial surveillance.

He said the number of people being exhumed could be more inside the forest.

Already he said they have rescued others to safety

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