Kindiki: How Shakahola Victims Are Evading Rescue in Forest

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki speaking during graduation of National Police Reservists at Kimalel grounds, Baringo County on May 18, 2023.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki speaking during graduation of National Police Reservists at Kimalel grounds, Baringo County on May 18, 2023.
Photo
Kithure Kindiki

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Thursday, May 25, revealed that a section of Pastor Paul Mackenzie's followers holed up in Shakahola forest were attempting to flee towards Galana Kulalu and Tsavo National Park. 

In a press briefing, Kindiki noted that police officers intercepted them after combing the area in the ongoing search and rescue operation. 

He noted that despite the rescue efforts, some exhibited a lot of resistance by refusing to eat. 

He gave an example of a victim who succumbed on Wednesday, May 24, after being taken to the hospital. The victim, who was already weak, declined to eat and succumbed.

Kindiki in Shakahola
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki during his visit to Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County on Friday, April 28, 2023.
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Ministry of Interior

"We believe there are more victims holed up in the forest and some are attempting to escape Mackenzie land and Chakama ranch. We have rescued some of them.

"Sadly, yesterday we lost one of those rescued from Shakahola forest because they continued to resist eating. We tried our best to feed the victim with a lot of resistance but because they had already been weakened, succumbed," he stated.

The CS noted that new evidence revealed the presence of more graves in the Shakahola forest and hence more time was needed to allow for the exhumation exercise to proceed.

Kindiki extended the measures gazetted on Shakahola forest including the dusk-to-dawn curfew by another 30 days to allow the exhumation process to continue without interruption.

He added that the area remained a crime scene and hence no unauthorised persons would be allowed at the premises.

While issuing the updates, Kindiki noted that police officers had rescued 91 people, and reunited 19 victims with their families. During the operation, 34 people were arrested due to the massacre.

The total number of bodies recovered from the forest currently stands at 241 including five skeletons recovered during the exhumation exercise. 

Pastor Paul Mackenzie (far left) and other accomplices in court
Pastor Paul Mackenzie (far left) and other accomplices at the Shanzu Court in Malindi County on May 2, 2023.
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ODPP Kenya
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