Since the news of the Shakahola Massacre hit the media in April, bodies are still being exhumed. This comes after more families are streaming into the area to look for their loved ones. On Friday 12th May 2023, homicide detectives exhumed 29 bodies, which is the highest number found in a day.
So far, the death toll has risen to 179, with 609 individuals still missing. However, some people have been rescued while others arrested, according to Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha.
“The number of those rescued remains 72 while arrests are 65. Some 93 families have provided DNA samples. The number of those reported missing rose by 15, totalling 609.”
Bodies Examined
122 bodies have so far been examined under Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor. According to the autopsies, the main reason for death was hunger. The results also showed that some people including children were beaten, strangled, or suffocated. Some bodies did not have their internal organs, raising suspicion of human organ trafficking, says Oduor.
“Autopsy reports have noted missing organs on some of the bodies of victims that have so far been exhumed,”
Photo Courtesy: The Star
Irrespective of the efforts, the Kenya Red Cross Society tracing desk has experienced confusion as families fail to identify their kin. This is because a majority of believers changed their names while those rescued are being held at undisclosed government institutions. Families of the rescued are demanding answers as to where their loved ones are being held, and why they are barred from visiting them.
Families still searching for their kin are now dependent on DNA results as the process of identifying and reuniting victims is slow. Detectives are also eyeing Pst. Paul Nthenge Mackenzie homestead after getting information regarding a mass grave in the area.
Where is Mackenzie?
Paul Mackenzie is still in police custody after a Shanzu court ruled that he and the other 17 remain behind bars as the State continues to build a case against them. The ruling was done on Wednesday after the court directed for the suspects to be detained for not more than 30 days from May 3rd. Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda also ordered for them to be treated humanely with respect for their inherent human dignity.
“During the time of detention, the respondents shall be granted reasonable access to their advocates and family or any other person whose assistance will be necessary. The access will include the right to communicate privately with the advocates.”
Shakahola Curfew
Meanwhile, the Shakahola massacre has also seen government officials disagreeing on how things should be run. This is after the Governor of Kilifi Gideon Mung’aro differed with the Interior Security CS Kithure Kindiki about the scope of the night curfew imposed in the area. The CS increased the restricted area from 800 to 50,000 acres which will affect people living in Chakama 1 and 2 near Timboni.
However, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro stated that the area is too huge and there is no reason for the CS to impose a curfew on the extended area other than the 800-acre farm. He argued that the decision will negatively impact many people that are not involved in the Shakahola massacre.
Conclusion
Mackenzie and the 17 arrested are facing serious charges of murder, radicalization, crimes against humanity, aiding suicide, genocide, child cruelty, counseling and aiding persons to kill themselves, abduction, fraud, and money laundering.
