Families of over 400 victims of the Shakahola cult massacre will finally receive the bodies of their loved ones today, almost a year after the unsettling incident was brought to light.
This comes after pathologists released DNA results for the exhumed bodies in February paving way for the families to bury their kin.
Government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, who has been leading the postmortem process has met a multi-sectoral team involved in the probe in preparations for the next phase of exhumations.
Giving his account of the identification progress, Dr. Oduor said one of the biggest challenges was a lack of cooperation from family members due to stigma around the cause of death which was linked to cultism.
He added that the same has slowed down the identification process.
Meanwhile, main suspect Pastor Paul Mackenzie and his 95 co-accused remain detained as authorities heighten investigations.
Some of the charges they face in court include engaging in organized criminal activity, radicalization and facilitating the commission of a terrorist act all violations under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012 and the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, 2010.
More than 425 people have been confirmed dead in the suspected cult, with over 600 people still reported missing.
The cult, which has been in operation for eons, was put under a tight national microscope in 2023 when two children died under their parent’s care after Mackenzie instructed members of his church to starve themselves to “meet Jesus”.
Reports revealed that members of Mackenzie’s Good News International church were influenced to starve themselves to death.
Mackenzie was arrested in April 15, 2023 and has since been under police custody.
