Two more bodies exhumed as Shakahola massacre death toll hits 450

Two more bodies were on Wednesday exhumed from the Shakahola forest as phase five of the exhumation exercise, which commenced on Monday last week, continues.

The total number of bodies exhumed in phase five now stands at 21, with the death toll rising to 450.

During this phase, more than 30 graves have now been exhumed, while 32 bodies have so far been positively identified through DNA testing at the Malindi morgue in Kilifi County.

Families of the deceased members will likely be required to wait longer to have the results of the DNA following the government’s decision to resume the exhumation.

Chief Government pathologist Johansen Oduor last week said the investigation was being conducted procedurally with the autopsy report.

Homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) last week identified 50 graves near the areas where 429 bodies were previously exhumed from various mass graves. They said the area would be their main focus during the exercise.

The bodies are believed to be those of followers of the deadly religious doctrine linked to controversial Pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church in Kilifi County.

Mackenzie was arrested in April last year over accusations of inciting his followers to fast to death. 

Mackenzie and his 94 co-accused have been in custody since then, facing multiple charges including murder, manslaughter, and child torture in the Shakahola case.