On Thursday, a Shanzu court granted the State's request to extend the detention of 66 Shakahola massacre suspects for 130 days pending investigations and charges.

The State had requested an additional 180 days of detention through Assistant DPP Jami Yamina.

In a Thursday afternoon ruling, Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido stated that the prosecutions had advanced compelling reasons on merit.

He stated that the court was convinced that detectives needed time to gather evidence before charging each suspect.

In an affidavit supporting the application, Chief Inspector Julius Wanjohi stated that the investigation is complex, mainly extracting DNA material from 429 bodies for analysis.

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According to Justice Omido, 360 bodies were severely decomposed, making the autopsy process delicate, costly, laborious, and time-consuming.

The court observed that solving the mystery of what caused the deaths in the Shakahola massacre was a complex adventure akin to putting together a jigsaw puzzle that took a significant amount of time and resources.

Due to the gravity of the crimes they face, as well as the risk of interfering with potential witnesses and causing self-harm, the court agreed that suspects pose a flight risk.

Omido also ruled that releasing the suspects would jeopardize their safety because some had left their homes with children who are now missing and presumed dead in the Shakahola massacre.

The court also ruled that the DPP required sufficient time to review the evidence and determine the nature of the charges against each of the 66 suspects.


"The upshot is that I will allow their further remand in custody for 130 days which I think will serve the intended purpose," said the senator.

The suspects were ordered to be held at Shimo La Tewa GK, Kilifi GK, and Malindi GK Men and Women Remand for no more than 130 days, beginning on September 11, when the application was filed.

The case will be heard on January 18, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., to allow the State to update the court on the status of the investigations and to issue further orders.

The suspects will enter pleas on January 18, 2024, subject only to the DPP's instructions, according to Yamina, the assistant DPP.

On January 9, 2024, a decision on Makenzi's application will be made.