New bodies found near the Shakahola Mountain

Nine bodies were exhumed by fresh graves suspected of being related to the notorious hunger of Kenya.

In one of the worst cases of mass death related to the cults, more than 400 bodies were discovered in 2023 in the remote Shakahola Forest, inside the coastal city of Malindi.

They are believed to have been the followers of the self -proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is said to have encouraged them to starve to death.

These exhumations were ordered in July after some children disappeared a new probe. Prosecutors said 11 people were arrested in connection with the case, including three who were followers of Mackenzie during the Shakahola Forest slaughter.

Recent discoveries seem to confirm the fears raised by the government earlier during the year that the cult can still be active.

In April, the Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomeni said he had allegations that Mackenzie was actively communicating with his prison followers – he used a mobile phone.

D -n Mackenzie who was arrested last year and pleaded guilty to murderHe claims that they have told their followers that they will reach the sky faster if they stop eating.

According to the AFP news agency, the Mombasa court postponed its current case earlier this month, citing the opening of new evidence.

Five bodies were found in place of exhumation in the village of Ku Binzaro near the Shakahola Forest on Thursday and four more bodies on Friday.

“We have not exhausted the demand; the area is very, very extensive. So we expect more bodies,” the government of pathologist Richard Neoroge told the Reuters news agency on Thursday.

“This is to please members of the public who may have lost their loved ones or may suspect that their relatives are missing from reporting at the Malindi Regional Hospital. We have a Red Cross Bureau where their details will be taken, and their DNA samples will be taken.”

The exhumation of 18 more graves is expected to continue on Monday.

In July, Kenya’s office of the Director of Public Prosecutors said he believed that the burials could have been “starved and suffocated as a result of the acceptance and promotion of extreme religious ideologies.”

Hussein Halid, an human rights activist and CEO of Vocal Africa, witnessed exhumations on Thursday.

“The first body, which in itself was established, was placed there quite recently – two to three weeks ago. But the other four seemed to have been there for a while and were in a decaying state,” he told the BBC.

He said the situation of one of the graves hinted at a fake game.

“No remains have been found, but it seems that days ago, some, some people or some group should have removed the corpse that was there,” said Halid, adding that only pieces of baby and female linen were left behind.

“This sent a chilling message that the person or persons who have been buried is possible are women and children.”