Kenyan Police Exhume 5 New Graves in Cult Tragedy

Police in Kenya have begun exhuming 27 newly discovered shallow graves in Kilifi County’s Chakama Ranch, part of the notorious Shakahola Forest, where one of the world’s deadliest cult-related tragedies unfolded two years ago.

On Thursday, mortuary workers carried out six bodies, including those of children, and collected scattered body parts found near Kwa Binzaro village.

Authorities fear many more victims remain buried.

“This is just the beginning,” said state pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge. “Today we managed to exhume six. Of the six graves, we found five bodies, and also around that area we found ten different scattered body parts.”

The graves are believed to be linked to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his Good News International Church, whose followers were encouraged to starve themselves to death in pursuit of salvation.

In 2023, more than 400 mass graves were discovered in the same forest, leaving over 450 confirmed dead.

Mackenzie remains in prison facing charges of terrorism, child torture and murder. Eleven new suspects connected to the latest exhumations have been arrested and are expected to appear in court on Friday.

Investigators continue the painstaking task of identifying the dead. Families with missing loved ones have been urged to come forward and provide DNA samples.