Police in Kilifi County have discovered 13 new graves at Kwa Binzaro, a village near the Shakahola area, and confirmed 11 deaths so far. According to authorities, this brings the total number of identified graves in the area to 21.
The village of Kwa Binzaro is located just a few kilometres from the infamous Shakahola Forest, where over 400 people allegedly died from starvation in a tragedy associated with a doomsday cult.
Homicide detectives stated that they returned to the five-acre site to prepare for planned exhumations. While mapping the grounds, police found the new graves scattered across the land, with some of the holes being shallow and human bones and skulls visible in some places.
Officials say the remains will be exhumed so forensic teams can carry out post-mortems, DNA tests, and toxicology checks to determine the cause of death and to identify the victims.
Police believe the newly found graves may be linked to suspected cult activity in the area by pastor Mackenzie.
Investigators are treating the site as part of a criminal probe and have been following public tips and leads that directed them to Kwa Binzaro.
A number of people have, however, been arrested and are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigations.
Some members of the public have reported that wild animals have disturbed the shallow graves, exposing the remains and making the situation worse. In response, families are calling for the swift identification of victims and for authorities to expedite the forensic work.
Although officials had planned for exhumations, they say the process may face delays due to shortages of staff and equipment needed for proper forensic work. Human rights groups and community leaders have urged the government to act quickly so families can learn the fate of their missing relatives.
Police have appealed to anyone with information about missing people or suspicious activity around Kwa Binzaro to come forward. They have asked the public to share tips with the nearest police station or through the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
This recovery comes just a few days after detectives found graves on August 11, following a public tip-off. Four of the seven graves were found on a five-acre plot of land that was already under investigation, and fresh bones with ligaments still attached were uncovered there.
According to Kilifi County Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) Robert Kiinge, 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.
