Court Orders Exhumation in Malindi Suspected Cult Deaths
This court decision is a major breakthrough toward unearthing what the authorities think is another cultist mass tragedy in Kilifi County.
Resident Magistrate Irene Thamara authorized the exhumation, directing government pathologists to conduct comprehensive post-mortem examinations, toxicological testing. Photo/ Citizen Digital
By Juliet Jerotich
A Malindi court has granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) permission to exhume bodies suspected to have been buried in shallow graves within the Binzaro area of Kilifi County. The ruling follows after the DCI requested the court to determine the cause of deaths of several individuals who were allegedly involved in cult-like activities in the region.
This is after gruesome reports that the deceased may have died due to forced starvation—an incident that is drawing similarities with the notorious Shakahola starvation cult that was uncovered in March 2023. In the earlier case, followers of the controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie were starved to death under the guise of “meeting Jesus.”
According to prosecution counsel Judy Gathungu, initial investigations have shown that apart from starvation, some of the victims also died of suffocation. In an affidavit submitted before the court, the DCI revealed that initial reports are pointing towards radical religious indoctrination as a significant factor in the tragic result.
Our probe has found a number of suspected shallow graves where bodies were secretly buried,” one investigator stated in the affidavit. The document also suspected foul play due to inconsistencies in the testimonies of the survivors, particularly on the unexplained disappearance of some of the children.
Resident Magistrate Irene Thamara approved the exhumation, directing government pathologists to conduct complete post-mortem examination, toxicology, and DNA profiling to establish the specific causes of death. The court highlighted the importance of forensic examination in uncovering the truth and seeking justice for the victims.
Apart from issuing the exhumation directives, Justice Thamara ordered the Malindi and Lango Baya Police Stations Officers Commanding Stations (OCS) to provide tight security for the exercise. She also instructed the sub-county health officer to monitor health and safety during the exhumation process. The bodies exhumed are to be preserved and stored at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital morgue for further forensic examination.
This court decision is a major breakthrough toward unearthing what the authorities think is another cultist mass tragedy in Kilifi County. The detectives wish to reconstruct the events leading to the mass deaths and bring to justice those behind it while preventing such occurrences in the future.
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