Shakahola massacre: Autopsies conducted on 10 bodies, 9 identified as children

The fourth phase of autopsy examinations for victims of the Shakahola cult in Kilifi County went underway on Wednesday with post-mortem conducted on 10 more bodies.

The autopsy report revealed that out of the 10 autopsies conducted, nine of them were children while only one was an adult.

According to Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, the cause of death of four victims was found to be starvation, while autopsy on the six others was inconclusive due to the level of decomposition of the bodies.

Dr. Oduor also stated that four of the victims were established to have been male and three were female.

He however noted that the gender of three other victims could not be ascertained, also due to the decomposition.

The Government Pathologist said the DNA results that have been matched will be released soon and the bodies dispatched to the relatives.

The suspected cult linked to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church has seen the deaths of more than 425 people so far, with over 600 people still reported missing.

Mackenzie who is currently detained is accused of brainwashing his followers to starve themselves to death in order to "meet Jesus."