Shakahorror: Death Toll Rises to 67 as 20 More Bodies Exhumed
Sunday’s body recovery uncovered three bodies in one grave, two in another, and one in a single grave.
The police have exhumed twenty additional bodies from the Shakahola land in Magarini, Kilifi County.
This brings the total number of exhumed bodies to date to 67.
Even as investigations into pastor Paul Mackenzie’s church-like cult intensify, the bodies were exhumed.
Sunday, a woman in poor health was rescued from one of the hideouts, according to witnesses and police.
Sunday’s body recovery uncovered three bodies in one grave, two in another, and one in a single grave.
The gravediggers reported that they had also marked the graves of seven additional individuals during the Sunday exercise.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced that he will visit Shakahola Village on Tuesday, April 25. He also urged the Coast Regional Commissioner and security chiefs to bolster the team conducting exhumation on Nthenge’s property.
The CS described the unfolding massacre of cult members as “the most egregious violation of the constitutionally protected human right to freedom of religion.”
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Nationally, he advocated for stricter regulation of religious institutions such as churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues.
Saturday morning, police reported that Nthenge was on a hunger strike.
At the outset of the operation, the authorities had a total of 32 sites to excavate.
As a result of a tip from an informant, they had hoped to recover 32 bodies, according to the police. However, the number rose to 47.
Nthenge has gained notoriety for allegedly influencing his followers to die too quickly.
One of the unearthed graves contained the remains of five family members, including a father, a mother, and their three children. The majority of them are not locals.
Monday afternoon, Nthenge appeared before Malindi’s chief magistrate, Elizabeth Usui.
He was not required to enter a plea, but the prosecution requested an additional thirty days to complete their investigation.
He was indicted alongside thirteen others in a case that will be discussed on May 2.
The judge ruled that the cult leader and six of his followers must remain in police custody for fourteen days while police investigate the incident.
The remaining seven, described as victims by the prosecution because they refused to eat even while in police custody, will be held for seven days for counseling, according to officials.
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