Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, on Thursday, May 25, uncovered controversial pastor, Paul Mackenzie's, mud house deep inside Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County
In a statement, Kindiki informed Kenyans that Mackenzie of Good News International Church had built the mud grass thatched house to coordinate all his operations.
To fully dissociate from other people, Mackenzie built small dams around the premises to support his farming venture.
From the photos released by the Ministry of Interior, the area had three houses with no clear demarcation.
A tour inside one of the houses portrayed a picture of a man with no clear plan as the household items were scattered everywhere while others appeared broken.
"Visited part of Shakahola Forest where rogue preacher Mackenzie was residing, constructed dams for irrigation, and was growing various food crops despite radicalising his followers to starve to death," Kindiki stated.
Residents who were left in awe wondered why Mackenzie left his palatial home in Malindi and relocated to the forest.
On Monday, May 1, angry Kilifi residents raided the mansion in the Furunzi area after the controversial preacher left in the company of police officers.
Meanwhile, CS Kindiki announced the government's plan to construct roads in Shakahola Forest to allow police officers access to other areas believed to be part of the crime scene.
"The government will construct security roads within Chakama Ranch to enable the ground troops comb the expansive forest and combine forces with the team conducting aerial surveillance to ensure any person still holed up in the thickets is rescued," Kindiki announced.
Before the intervention, the law enforcement officers lamented that the other victims were fleeing towards Galana Kulalu and Tsavo National Park.
"We believe more victims are holed up in the forest, and some attempt to escape Mackenzie land and Chakama ranch. We have rescued some of them.
"Sadly, yesterday, May 24, we lost one of those rescued from Shakahola Forest because they continued to resist eating. We tried our best to feed the victims with a lot of resistance, but they succumbed as they had already been weakened," he stated.
The total number of bodies recovered from the forest currently stands at 241, including five skeletons.