Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki visited the Shakahola forest on Tuesday, where the exhumation of suspected starving cult members had resumed.
CS Kithure told the media that the government would use all available resources to determine what happened at Shakahola.
He described the "Shakahola massacre" as one of the saddest catastrophes in Kenyan history. Over 109 individuals died, some from malnutrition and others from asphyxiation, believing they would see Jesus.
The second phase of exhumation exercise is underway at Shakahola forest. The exhumation process is a legal, medical, and human rights exercise that must be undertaken methodically and carefully to protect the dignity and privacy of families of the deceased persons. The Government… pic.twitter.com/ZqZw6dsTyP
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) May 9, 2023Did you read this?
According to the CS, security agencies are still combing the enormous woodland linked to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie.
CS Kithure added that, while planes in search and rescue will be limited, security authorities will utilize drones, which have already proven effective, to supplement the ground teams that are combing the forest with sniffer dogs.
As of Tuesday afternoon, two additional persons had been rescued, bringing the total number of people saved to 65.
Simultaneously, 25 persons have been arrested for their involvement with the massacre and will face various accusations in court.
CS Kithure, who described Tuesday's activities as the exercise's second phase, advised missing relatives' families to report to the support centre for quicker identification.
In Malindi, Kilifi County to oversee commencement of the second phase of exhumation of bodies at the Shakahola forest. The exercise was called off due to bad weather. Post mortem examinations on 112 bodies exhumed or recovered from Shakahola have been concluded. Search and rescue… pic.twitter.com/Z4L4Q5Hw7a
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) May 9, 2023
Meanwhile, the dusk-to-dawn curfew in Shakahola continues, with CS Kithure warning that anyone arrested outside the curfew hours will be viewed as a suspect.
