- Kindiki said the government will do all it can to unravel what really transpired to leading to the deaths.
- More than 610 persons have been reported missing, therefore the number of bodies is expected to increase.
Image: FILE
The death toll at Shakahola Forest has hit 201 as more bodies are yet to be exhumed.
On Friday, detectives exhumed 29 bodies, the highest number since they began the process last month.
More than 610 persons have been reported missing, therefore the number of bodies is expected to increase.
The exhumation process was suspended until Tuesday next week to give the officials a two-day break.
Coast regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed the suspension.
“Operation takes a two-day break to resume on Tuesday,” she said.
The exercise which is in the second phase was officially launched by interior CS Kithure Kindiki who termed the Shakahola Forest cultic deaths as a well-planned criminal activity.
Detectives last week concentrated on the home of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie known by his followers as Galilaya (Galilee) where it is believed many people died as a result of starvation.
In the first phase, 110 bodies were exhumed but the CS said the numbers could be more and the process could take longer as they will make sure all bodies in the 800-acre parcel of land are exhumed and any follower who is still in the forest.
Kindiki said the security personnel are currently pursuing crucial leads for people who aided Mackenzie in the mass deaths that are being witnessed in Shakahola Forest.
“I would like to thank what every player is doing even as we try to come to what is one of the worst attacks witnessed in this country, I think unfortunately what we have in Shakahola is one of the worst tragedies the country has ever witnessed,
Kindiki said the government will do all it can to unravel what really transpired to leading to the deaths.
The CS said the team working on exhumation is led by Martin Nyuguto the Homicide Director while the investigations team are supervised by Abdalla Komesha, the Assistant IG of police.
Asked about the issue of missing body parts he said the investigation team had asked him not to reveal some information that could jeopardise the process.
He said the operation will go on until the last body is found in the forest and every follower of Mackenzie is rescued.
Kindiki said the area still remains out of bounds for politicians, whichever rank or respect they command in society.
However, his dusk-down curfew order for the entire Chakama Ranch did not go well with Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro. Chakama Ranch covers more than 50, 000 acres.
“I think people are mistaking that where Mackenzie is the whole of Chakama. Mackenzie's farm is only 800 acres, the rest of Chakama one and Chakama 2 are not affected. That land is huge and I don’t think there are many settlements on the 800 acres as in Chakama 1 and 2,” he said.
Kindiki had said any person found within those areas would be arrested.
Mung'aro said the CS's statement seems to have expanded the operation beyond the 800-acre Shakahola Mackenzie farm that is within the larger Chakama Ranch.
Security has been beefed up in the area with technology being used to track down survivors and followers of the controversial preacher who are still deeper in the forest.