Homicide detectives have discovered shallow graves containing human remains at a homestead in Kwa Binzaro village.
Kwa Binzaro village is located just a few kilometres from the infamous Shakahola Forest, where over 400 individuals allegedly died from starvation in a tragedy associated with a doomsday cult.
The graves were found on August 11 following a public tip-off.
Four of the seven graves were found on a five-acre plot of land which was already under investigation; fresh bones with ligaments still attached were uncovered there.
Kilifi County Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) Robert Kiinge said that the victims appear to have been starved and suffocated.
“The detectives were tipped off by members of the public that they had seen scattered body parts, and when they visited the area, they discovered the graves too. The victims may have been starved and suffocated as a result of adopting and promoting extreme religious ideologies,’’ Kiinge said.
It was reported that the bodies had been buried in polythene bags and that vegetables had been planted on top of the graves to hide them.
The high court granted the detectives 30 days to exhume the remains for post-mortem examinations, DNA testing and toxicological analysis, in order to determine the exact causes of death.
“We were given 30 days by the court to complete the exercise, so we are still finalising the investigations and logistics before embarking on the exhumation within the required time frame,” he added.
The deaths are believed to have occurred between March and July 2025.
The eleven suspects allegedly believed as the key suspects in the case are currently charged with organized crime, radicalization, aiding terrorism, and murder.
The Kwa Binzaro village is situated within the vast Chakama Ranch, which also encompasses the Shakahola Forest.
The initial Shakahola tragedy involved Pastor Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church, who allegedly instructed his followers to fast to death to meet Jesus.
Mackenzie and 93 others are currently facing charges related to the deaths of over 400 people.
