Eight more bodies were Thursday exhumed from Shakahola Forest land linked to Pastor Paul Mackenzie on Wednesday bringing the death toll to 326
Mackenzie is being investigated for crimes including aiding suicide, after allegedly convincing members of his Good News International Church to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus.
The cult leader and tens of suspects have been arrested amid investigations and a court case to establish what happened in Shakahola.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said 19 bodies have been identified, 95 people rescued, 65 arrested and 613 reported missing.
Meanwhile, the Shanzu Magistrate Court on Thursday directed 64 followers of controversial televangelist Mackenzie to be taken back to a rescue centre in Kilifi County where they were being housed previously.
The victims had been forcefully taken to Shimo la Tewa Maximum Prison after they staged a hunger strike while at the rescue centre.
After being asked to respond to whether they will abide by the rules of the rescue centre, they all agreed and vowed to cooperate with investigating officers in the matter.
They were initially 65, but one of the female victims who told the court that she would not cooperate with authorities investigating the Shakahola massacre will remain remanded at the Shimo la Tewa Women’s Prison.
The victims, while initially at the rescue centre in Mtwapa, had declined meals served to them by the State with no clear reasons
Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido also ruled that each of the 65 victims should undergo medical and mental health assessments.
“I also direct that the medical and mental health reports should be filed with the court in the next 14 days for further directions,” Magistrate Omido stated.
“The medical report will be conducted by the state in conjunction with Haki Africa and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).”
The 65 were asked to say loudly before the court that they will cooperate with the police, counsellors, and other State agents.
KNCHR wants charges against Shakahola survivors dropped, and instead focus to be shifted towards counselling, rehabilitation and aftercare support including their reintegration.
The matter will be mentioned back in court on diverse dates between June 20 and 29 this year.
Currently, the Kenya Defense Forces were on the ground opening up access roads within the 840-acre land so as to make the forest accessible.
The area has been cordoned off and declared a disturbed.
Dozens more bodies are believed to be buried in shallow graves therein.
Mackenzie, who is in police custody, is being investigated for influencing his followers to starve to death in order to meet their maker.
Police also suspect that some of the victims did not starve to death and may have been killed and then buried on the property.
He has denied wrongdoing but has been refused bail.
He insists that he shut down his church in 2019.
The followers say he told them to starve themselves in order to “meet Jesus“.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who recently visited the region to oversee the resumption of exhumations, described the Shakahola deaths as a highly organised crime.
“I am afraid we have a lot of graves,” Prof Kindiki said.
“The damage is quite extensive.
The process is far from over.”
The CS also revealed that detectives were zeroing in on Mackenzie’s co-conspirators.
