Kenyan Government to Release Bodies from Mass Graves Linked to Religious Cult
In a shocking turn of events, the Kenyan government has announced that they will be releasing some of the bodies discovered in mass graves in the Shakahola forest last year. These bodies, connected to a religious cult led by Paul Mackenzie, have been identified using DNA analysis and are set to be released to their families for burial.
Government pathologist Johansen Oduor revealed that out of the hundreds of bodies uncovered in the Shakahola forest, thirty-four have been identified and will be released next Tuesday week. The identification process has been slow, with Oduor urging people who suspect their family members may be among the victims to come forward.
The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are exhumed in the coming weeks. Autopsies have shown that the victims were strangled, beaten, or suffocated, all at the instruction of cult leader Paul Mackenzie. Mackenzie, who remains in custody since his arrest in April 2023, has been charged with murder, manslaughter, and radicalization. He has also been accused of torturing children and denying them their rights to education.
Despite Mackenzie’s denial of all charges, a judge in Mombasa recently refused to release him and 38 others on bail, citing the best interests of the children who are witnesses in the case. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 23 April, as the investigation into this horrific cult continues.
The Kenyan government is committed to ensuring that the unclaimed bodies are buried in a way that they can be traced, should someone come forward in the future. With the release of the identified bodies to their families, closure may finally be within reach for those affected by this tragic chapter in Kenya’s history.
