Shakahola massacre: 29 more bodies exhumed, death toll rises to 179

The exhumation exercise currently ongoing at the Shakahola forest in Kilifi County on Friday saw at least 29 more bodies dug up from 12 graves.

Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, in her daily updates to the press, said the death toll from the pastor Paul Mackenzie-led starvation cult has now hit 179.

Ms. Onyancha added that no new persons were arrested or rescued during the operation, leaving the said tallies standing at 25 and 72 respectively.

She however added that 15 more people were also reported missing, raising the number to 609.

This comes as Mackenzie and 17 other co-accused persons, including his wife, were on Wednesday detained for 30 more days pending completion of probe into the Shakahola cult.

The ruling was delivered by Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda, who stated that releasing the suspects would jeopardise their safety as well as the ongoing investigation.

Mackenzie’s Good News International Church as well as pastor Ezekiel Odero’s New Life Prayer Centre and Church have also both received cancellation notices from the Registrar of Societies over non-compliance.