The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) on Thursday, May 11 faulted the government over the Shakahola security operation, arguing that the arrest of people in the forest was scaring survivors.
Speaking in Malindi during a press briefing, Prof. Marion Mutugi, a commissioner at KNCHR urged government to assure Shakahola victims that they will be treated as survivors but not suspects.
“It is saddening to observe that the operations so far have focused on exhumation of the dead rather than rescue of the living. Reports that come to the commission suggest that there are many people still in the forest and because of fear of arrest they have resided deep into the forest,” Marion explained.
Marion stated that allaying fears of the victims, would make the rescue operation even easier as more survivors would surrender themselves to the authorities.
She recommended a change of strategy in the security operation to focus more on survivors who were still trapped in the forest.
“We recommend that there be a review of priority to focus on rescue of the living and in this regard, we call for a strategy that facilitates saving lives of radicalized, indoctrinated persons in the forest,” she stated.
On the other hand, she commended the local community, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media for their roles in the Shakahola tragedy.
“We wish to note that it is the CSOs, members of the community and the media that brought this issue to the forefront,” she stated.
At the same time, the commission called upon religious organizations to stop doctrines that may harm the worshippers, especially children.
“Fasting is a common feature encouraged by various religions but we note that there is no religion that propagates this to a point of death. Such religious practices and other self-denial should not extend to children,” she explained.
The KNCHR commissioner called for thorough investigations into all religious activities in the country to avoid a repeat of what occurred in Shakahola forest.
A statement by the KNCHR came two weeks after Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, on April 26, declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew at the Chakama Ranch, which holds the 800-acre Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County.
The CS indicated that the area was disturbed and that the curfew would enable the security officers to continue their exhumation and investigations.
Still on the same matter, the Interior CS announced a massive reshuffle of police bosses in Kilifi County on April 28.
Kindiki stated that the transfer of police bosses would enable the government to conduct thorough investigations into the mass graves at Shakahola Forest in the county.
As of Wednesday, May 10, at least 145 bodies had been exhumed from the forest.
