Nine bodies have been exhumed from fresh graves suspected to be linked to Kenya’s notorious starvation cult.
In one of the worst ever cases of cult-related mass deaths, more than 400 bodies were found in 2023 in the remote Shakahola Forest, inland from the coastal town of Malindi.
It is believed they were followers of self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is alleged to have encouraged them to starve themselves to death.
These exhumations were ordered in July after the disappearance of some children triggered a new probe. Prosecutors said 11 people had been arrested in connection with the case, including three who were followers of Mr Mackenzie at the time of “Shakahola Forest Massacre”.
The latest discoveries seem to confirm fears raised by the government earlier in the year that the cult might still be active.
In April, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said there were allegations that Mr Mackenzie was actively communicating with his followers from jail – using a mobile phone.
Mr Mackenzie, who was arrested last year and pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, allegedly told his followers they would get to heaven more quickly if they stopped eating.
According to the AFP news agency, a Mombasa court adjourned his ongoing case earlier this month citing the discovery of new evidence.
Five bodies were found at the exhumation site in Kwa Binzaro village near Shakahola Forest on Thursday and a further four bodies on Friday.
“We have not exhausted the search; the area is very, very vast. So we expect more bodies,” government pathologist Richard Njoroge told the Reuters news agency on Thursday.
“This is to appeal to the members of the public who may have lost their loved ones or who may suspect that their loved ones are missing to report to Malindi District Hospital. We have a Red Cross desk there, where their details will be taken, and also their DNA samples will be taken.”
The exhumation of 18 more gravesites is expected to continue on Monday.
In July, Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said it believed those buried might have been “starved and suffocated as a result of adopting and promoting extreme religious ideologies”.
Hussein Khalid, a human rights activist and CEO of Vocal Africa, witnessed the exhumations on Thursday.
“The first body which was found by itself appeared to have been put there fairly recently – two to three weeks back. But the other four appear to have been there a while and were in a decomposing state,” he told the BBC.
He said the situation at one of the gravesites hinted at foul play.
“No remains were found but it appeared as if days ago, someone, some people or some group must have removed the corpse that was there,” Mr Khalid said, adding that only pieces of children’s and women’s underwear had been left behind.
“That sent a chilling message that it is possible the person or persons who were buried there were women and children.”
