Body, human skulls found as police rescue four at Malindi homestead

Detectives exhume bodies during the phase five exhumation inside the Shakahola forest, Kilifi county. [Marion Kithi, Standrd]

Police in Malindi have recovered one body, two human skulls and rescued four people at a bushy homestead in Kwa Binzaro village, a few kilometres from the infamous Shakahola Forest where more than 400 people were buried after starving to death.

A security team led by Kilifi County Commissioner Mr Josphat Biwott on Saturday visited the scene of a suspected radicalised family and conducted a search, during which they rescued the four individuals.

Biwott confirmed the incident, saying that the body was found in the thicket within the homestead.

“We have rescued four people – three women and one man. We have also recovered one body, which appeared fresh, and two human skulls,” he said.

Kwa Binzaro village falls within the expansive Chakama Ranch that also covers Shakahola Forest, where Pastor Paul Makenzi allegedly instructed his followers to fast to death in order to see God.

Makenzi, who is currently facing various charges following the cult-like deaths, used to run the Good News International Church. His followers are believed to have joined him in the Shakahola Forest, where he resided.

Yesterday, Biwott said three of those rescued on Saturday appeared weak and were taken to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for treatment.

The four people rescued were identified as Jairus Otieno, 50, Lilian Otieno, 40, Kahonzi Katana, 40, and Loice Zawadi, aged 19 years.

“The three women were worn out, but the man was okay,” he said.

The body and the skulls have been taken to Malindi Sub-County Mortuary awaiting identification and autopsy.

Mr Biwott said that more investigations would be carried out to ascertain whether the incident was cult-related.

“We recovered the bodies at someone's homestead of five acres, seven kilometres from Kwa Binzaro market within Chakama Ranch. However, at the moment, we cannot confirm if this is a cult-related activity. But we will conduct a thorough investigation to establish the truth,” he said.

Biwott added that the owner of the homestead was not present during the police raid.

He noted that Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers would visit the scene today to conduct a detailed investigation in the area.

In April this year, police in Malindi arrested a pastor in the Chakama area following the death of one of his followers at his church premises.

Pastor Abel Kahindi Gandi Charo, aged 49, was accused by the police of indoctrinating his followers with extremist and cult-related beliefs.

He was, however, released on a Sh30,000 bail by the Malindi High Court.