In a chilling echo of the 2023 Shakahola massacre, Kenyan police have discovered seven shallow graves containing human remains in Kwa Binzaro village, Kilifi County, deepening fears of persistent cult activity in the region.
The grisly find, announced by Kilifi County Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Robert Klinge, points to “yet another case of cult practice,” becoming tragically common in the area. The discovery comes just weeks after another suspected cult incident in the same Chakama area’s Binzaro village, where police rescued four individuals and investigated at least three mysterious deaths.
Connection to Shakahola’s Shadow
The location is ominously close to the Shakahola forest, part of the wider Chakama area, where the world recoiled in 2023 as over 450 bodies were exhumed from shallow graves. That case, infamously known as the Shakahola massacre, centered on Pastor Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church. He stands accused of instructing his followers, including children, to starve themselves to death to “meet Jesus.”
Recent Raid Uncovers Skulls, Body, and Rescues
The investigation intensified following a tip-off about suspicious religious activities. On July 22nd, the Interior Ministry announced an operation on a secluded five-acre homestead in the area. The raid yielded a horrific haul: two human skulls and the fresh body of an unidentified adult male recovered from nearby thickets.
Authorities successfully rescued four individuals from the compound:
- A 50-year-old man reported missing at Siaya Police Station on April 15th.
- His 40-year-old wife.
- Two other females, aged 40 and 19.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that the individuals may have been held under the influence of radical teachings,” the Ministry stated. A “prime suspect” and three individuals described as managers of the compound were arrested.
Pattern of Disappearance and Radicalization
Disturbingly, this isn’t the first time some of those involved have been linked to cult activity. Reports indicate the rescued couple had previously been rescued during the massive 2023 Shakahola operation but vanished again earlier this year. In March, the man’s brother told Citizen TV the couple had fled their Siaya home with six children aged between 1 and 15 years before resurfacing in Kilifi. The whereabouts of these children during the recent raid were not specified in the available reports.
Ongoing Crisis
The discovery of the seven new graves underscores a devastating and ongoing crisis in Kilifi County. Despite the global attention brought by the Shakahola massacre and subsequent arrests, radical teachings and deadly cult practices appear to persist, claiming new victims and tearing families apart. Authorities face the immense challenge of dismantling these networks and preventing further tragedies in communities vulnerable to radicalization.
The investigation into the Kwa Binzaro graves and the Chakama homestead raid is ongoing, with forensic efforts underway to identify the victims and determine the exact circumstances of their deaths.
TAGS: Kilifi | Shakaho
