Coast

Detectives exhume two more bodies in Shakahola Forest, pushing death toll to 448

Search team members collect bodies found in mass graves in the Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County on June 3, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

By Farhiya Hussein | Tuesday, June 11, 2024

The Shakahola forest has been the site of a major investigation following reports of mass graves linked to a suspected cult.

Detectives on Tuesday exhumed two additional bodies from the Shakahola Forest, bringing the total number of bodies recovered to 448.

The exhumation exercise, which had paused last week for a short break, resumed on Tuesday.

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The Shakahola forest has been the site of a major investigation following reports of mass graves linked to a suspected cult.

Authorities continue to work diligently to uncover the full extent of the tragedy, with forensic teams on the ground to identify the victims and gather evidence.

The area remains under government surveillance, with security personnel stationed to monitor the site.

Last year, the government announced plans to convert the Shakahola forest into a national memorial site in honour of those who died there.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that the implementation would begin once the recovery of bodies was concluded.

Meanwhile, human rights defenders have expressed concern over the additional bodies of Shakahola victims being stored at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital mortuary. Over 430 bodies remain at the mortuary amid the fifth phase of the exhumation exercise.

Activists from the coastal region, led by Mathias Shipeta of Haki Afrika, voiced their worries about the health risks posed by the large number of bodies in the facility.

“Residents fear for their health due to the large number of bodies, given that storage places are scarce,” Shipeta said.

Victor Kaudo, a human rights advocate, has called on the government to halt the exhumation and focus on updating the DNA results of more than 600 samples taken over a year ago. “Only 30 results have been released so far. The government needs to prioritise the identification process to give closure to the affected families,” Kaudo urged.