State begins release of first Shakahola massacre bodies to families

Emotions ran high on Tuesday after the government started releasing the first bodies exhumed from the Shakahola forest to the families.

Last week the government announced out of 429 bodies exhumed from the vast Shakahola forest, 34 had their DNAs confirmed and their families contacted for collection.

When The Eastleigh Voice arrived at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital on Tuesday morning for the exercise, little was happening as only a few families had shown up for the collection process.

Family members of Francis Wanje after viewing the body of their kin at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital morgue on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

However, more families started arriving as the day progressed amid confusion as some of them said they were yet to receive the DNA results of their kin as they wondered how they would be able to personally identify their loved ones.

Families of the Shakahola cult victims at the Malindi Sub County Hospital where they are set to collect the bodies of their kin on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

However, the DCI Homicide coss Martin Nyuguto who is leading the exercise said they had set a well-outlined process flow for the release of bodies to assist the families.

He said they have established an assembly area, where families are to be assisted by Red Cross Staff.

Families of the Shakahola cult victims at the Malindi Sub County Hospital on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

Families will then proceed to the enquiry desk where registration of persons collecting bodies and tracing their kin will happen.

Families of the Shakahola cult victims at the Malindi Sub County Hospital where they are set to collect the bodies of their kin on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

They will then move to the verification of documents. Here they will be required to produce an introduction letter from the chief, their original Identity Cards, and explain their relationship to the deceased.

A DCI officer addresses families of the Shakahola cult victims at the Malindi Sub County Hospital on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

The next process is at the pre-viewing counseling where they will meet counselors.

After that, there will be the body viewing, post-viewing counselling and documentation of body release.

The scene at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital morgue on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

“I am here just to see the real DNA results before bodies are released, it will help identify if these are real bodies dispatched to respective families,” the Executive Director Malindi Social Justice Centre Victor Kaudo said.

The families of the Shakahola victims had earlier appealed to the government to provide assistance and ease the burden of burial expenses for their deceased kin.

A family member of one of the Shakahola massacre victims is helped by a Kenya Red Cross official after viewing the body of her kin at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital morgue on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

The family of Raphael Temba travelled from Vihiga to collect his body at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital morgue, however, they insisted they didn't have any money to transport the body let alone do a burial ritual for him.

Temba's eldest brother Silvano Opondi and son Daniel Ingati implored the government to help them bury their kin at their ancestral home.

Among the first bodies to be viewed include that of the wife of Titus Ngonyo, the daughter-in-law Emily Wanje, his son Harry, and one grandchild Seth Ngala.