On Monday, 26 bodies were exhumed, bringing the death toll in the Shakahola woodland atrocity linked to notorious Pastor Paul Makenzi to 73.

Six people and a baby boy were exhumed from a small grave on their legs. Martin Nyaguto, the homicide chief, stated that some children appeared to have been choked to death.

nyaguto said that It appears that some of the children died from suffocation before being buried, adding that The autopsy will reveal more information.

PHOTO | COURTESY shakahola cult

Police apprehended two individuals at Shakahola market who they believe were members of the group that buried the faithful on the 800-acre plot.

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As additional gruesome details of the faithful who starved to death emerged, President William Ruto called Makenzi's teachings terrorism and said he should be imprisoned.

"Mr Mackenzie, who poses as a pastor, is a heinous crime." Terrorists exploit religion to justify their horrible crimes. "People like Makenzi are doing the same thing with religion," he remarked.

He went on to say that terrorists exploit religion to justify their horrible actions. People like Makenzi use religion to accomplish the same thing. They are terrorists and criminals and do not belong to any religion. They belong in jail, and that is where they should be.

Ruto advised security authorities to take action against preachers who use religion to brainwash people during the passing out of Kenya Cadets in the prison service in Ruiru, Kiambu county.

The head of state stated that any religious group or preacher who violates citizens' constitutional rights by preaching against seeking medical care or going to school must be prosecuted and their institutions closed down.


According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the ongoing Shakahola woodland massacre is the clearest violation of the constitutionally guaranteed human right to freedom of worship. Large-scale crimes under Kenyan and international law have been perpetrated.