Shakahola massacre: 12 more bodies recovered as 579 people still missing

Twelve more bodies have been recovered at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County where hundreds of victims of a suspected starvation cult are believed to have been buried.

According to Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, out of the 12 bodies recovered on Wednesday, 11 were exhumed from graves while one was found dumped on the ground.

This brings the tally of dead bodies recovered so far from the forest to 145 after the second phase of the exhumation exercise kicked off on Tuesday.

The Coast Regional Commissioner noted that, so far, 579 people some of whom are suspected to have been members of the cult have been reported missing by their families as the search in the forest continues.

Onyancha also revealed that two people, both men, were rescued bringing the total of those rescued so far to 70.

She said that DNA samples have been collected from 93 families with 14 people being reunited with their kin.

The number of arrests made in connection with the shocking deaths remains at 25 as the exhumation exercise continues.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday stated that the government would use all available resources to determine what had occurred at Shakahola.

According to the CS, there is still a long way to go as security agencies comb the vast forest linked to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie and 17 other co-accused persons who are still in police custody will continue to be detained for 30 more days pending conclusion of investigations.

 Shanzu Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda delivered the ruling on Wednesday stating that releasing the suspects would jeopardise their safety as well as the ongoing investigations.