Shakahola death toll rises to 350 after 12 bodies retrieved

Homicide detectives load some of the bodies that were retrieved from Shakahola forest. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

The death toll at Shakahola forest in Kilifi County rose to 350 on Monday after forensic experts retrieved 12 more bodies from mass graves.

The investigators retrieved the bodies from five graves.

One of the graves is believed to have contained the bodies of four members of the same family — two children and their parents.

The exhumation is currently in the fourth phase and has seen hundreds of bodies retrieved. 

The authorities said that the death toll is expected to rise as more graves have been identified.

According to the detectives, 38 mass graves have so far been discovered in the fourth phase of exhumations.

The victims are believed to be members of cult leader Paul Makenzi’s church.

Coast regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said that 613 people were missing while those identified by their families were 19.

She further said that 36 arrests have been made in connection to the cult deaths.

Some of the suspects were arrested in the bushes at Shakahola while others were tracked down by investigators through mobile communications.

Meanwhile, the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Shakahola deaths has been told that the Ministry of Lands does not have records showing that Makenzi owns any land at Chakama Ranch.

Shakahola Massacre: 22 new mass graves identified, exhumation starts tomorrow

Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, who appeared before the committee chaired by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, yesterday said that the government allocated the 100,000 acres to Chakama Ranching Company Limited in December 1985.

The Principal Secretary told the Senate Committee that the parcel of land was registered as grant No. CR.17458 for a term of 45 years with the land later being subdivided into two parcels of 20,452.42 acres and 30,003.54 acres with a section of the land transferred to New Agricultural Limited in 1988.

“The Settlement Fund Trustee purchased LR No. 13472/5 and LR No.13472/6 from the Chakama Ranching Company Limited for purposes of settlement of squatters with Chakama Settlement Scheme Phase 1 undertaken on L.R. No 13472 with survey and demarcation work commencing on March 27, 2009 and completed on May 18, 2012,” said Korir.

The Principal Secretary told the Senate Committee that a total of 1,090 parcels each measuring 15 acres were surveyed with the list of beneficiaries being approved through the District Settler Selection Committee meeting held on May 18, 2012 with the parcels registered and titles issued on September 24, 2012.

“We have already established that the unfortunate events took place with L.R No. 13472/7 & 8,” said Korir.