Shakahola Death Toll Rises To 179 After 29 More Bodies Exhumed

KILIFI Kenya, May 12 -Detectives on Friday May 12 exhumed 29 more bodies from the Shakahola forest, bringing the death toll to 179.

The Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed the figures and said a total of 609 people have been reported missing.

A total of 25 people have been arrested while 72 others have been rescued.

Onyancha further said 14 people had been reunited with their families and 93 samples from relatives had been collected for DNA amnalysis.

said the rescue and exhumation exercises were still ongoing to ensure everyone is recued and all bodies buried in the forest are recovered.

On Thursday, eleven other bodies were exhumed. The same day, a Mombasa court allowed an application by the police to have the Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his wife Rhoda Maweu detained for 30 days.

Sixteen other people suspected of working in cahoots with the infamous pastor will also be held for the same period.

Shanzu Principal Magistrate, Yusuf Shikanda ruled that the respondents’ safety and security may be at risk if released on bond.

Police had applied to have Pastor Mackenzie, his wife and 16 others held for 30 days to allow them humble time to conclude investigations.

Inspector Rapheal Wanjoi, the investigating officer in his application said the period of detention granted by a Malindi court was insufficient owing to the evolving nurture of the case and lines of inquiry being pursued.

He told the court that the identities of some of the suspects were unknown and that he needed more time to investigate them.

He said over 103 bodies, then, had been exhumed and the numbers kept rising. A DNA test was to be conducted and it was until the last body is recovered that the same will be done.