Shakahola Forest exhumations: Detectives launch fifth phase in hunt for missing bodies

Detectives on Monday returned to Shakahola Forest marking the commencement of the fifth phase of body exhumations.

This new phase follows a hiatus last year, during which the focus was on performing autopsies, identifying the deceased, and reuniting the remains with their families.

The homicide detectives, led by Director Martin Nyuguto, have spent the last few months mapping and identifying new mass graves.

The task aims to recover additional bodies from the forest, a site of tragedy linked to religious extremism under the leadership of self-proclaimed Pastor Paul Mackenzie.

In March this year, under the direction of the DCI Homicide Director, a structured process was implemented to release the identified bodies to their families.

The process involved a detailed verification procedure and psychological support for the grieving families.

Rodgers Mwibo who got an opportunity to bury the remains of his mother on March 31, 2024, is looking forward to phase five of the exercise.

"Every mention of the exhumation process stirs up a whirlwind of emotions for me. While I'm grateful I could bury my mother, the fact that my sister and her daughter are still missing weighs heavy on my heart. I pray they will be found in this phase," he said, his words laden with both pain and hope.

According to Mwibo, his mother Pamela Muhonja, and his sister, Maureen Imiza, along with her two-year-old daughter, travelled from Bungoma, Western two years ago to Shakahola Forest.

He says prior to the journey his mother noted that she was going to Pastor Mackenzie in Malindi.

A body is loaded onto a hearse from the Malindi sub-county Referral Hospital morgue on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

“We were in communication until December 2022, when we lost contact. She had informed us that she found a piece of land the pastor was selling to her and even requested I send her some money to finish up the roof,” said Mwibo.

Hopeful

Mzee Titus Ngonyo is also hopeful that in this phase the remains of his family members will be found.

He was among the first families to receive the bodies of their kin in March.

Ngonyo lost eight family members including his wife and firstborn son, a General Service Unit officer( GSU) Isaac Ngala.

“Out of the eight family members, the DNA confirmed four of them died in the vast Shakahola Forest,” explained Ngonyo

The four include his wife, third-born son Harry Ngala, daughter-in-law Emily Wanje and one grandson Seth Ngala, the bodies they got to view inside the morgue.

Alleged cult leader Paul Mackenzie, the key suspect in the Shakahola massacre, at the Shakahola Law Courts in Mombasa County on March 13, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Out of the eight family members caught in the Shakahola tragedy, only one grandson, Ephraim, was rescued last year.

The future of Ngonyo’s eldest son, Isaac Ngala, his daughter-in-law, and his two-year-old grandson remains a troubling mystery.

However, it remains puzzling how sure they were that the bodies they viewed were those of their missing family members since they depended solely on DNA confirmation by the government.

“Despite bringing back painful memories, it is our hope as a family that the remaining members be traced and identified so that we can get peace of mind knowing they have been laid to rest where we know,” Titus told The Eastleigh Voice.

In 2023, Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County became the centre of a devastating event where over 400 people lost their lives due to extreme religious practices.

Survivors revealed that followers were instructed to fast continuously to meet their 'maker,' leading to numerous deaths.

The bodies of the deceased, many still unidentified, have been stored in a makeshift morgue in Kilifi, a grim reminder of the horrific events.

The village of Shakahola, once lively, now stands desolate, with abandoned homes and personal items bearing silent witness to the tragedy.

Today, as the detectives return to the forest, all eyes are on Shakahola to see if more bodies will be retrieved, further uncovering the full extent of the tragedy.

The task is daunting but crucial in providing closure to the affected families and addressing the broader issues of religious extremism in the region.