Forensic detectives have discovered 12 shallow graves as investigations into the activities of a cult led by Pastor Paul Mackenzie intensify.
The police mapped out sections of the worship site at the Shakahola forest in Malindi County with the intention of exhuming the bodies.
During the operation, four people were rescued, including one woman whose pleas for help reached the detectives.
Police believe that there could be more graves in the forested area as some of Mackenzie’s followers are said to have flattened the graves to conceal them.
The 12 shallow graves are believed to contain the remains of followers of Mackenzie’s The Good News International Church who died in the process of fasting in their attempt to meet God.
Titus Katana, one of the residents and a reformed believer, is helping the police in mapping out areas where the bodies are believed to have been buried.
“Mimi nilikuwa mfuasi lakini nashukuru Mungu alinitoa kabla ya mambo unayoona kutendeka,” said Katana.
Four people were rescued including one woman who was at the brink of death; she was found lying in the forest, weak and dehydrated. Her cries for help reached the detectives who were combing the scene and she is currently receiving treatment.
“Tumewaonyesha makaburi, tumeokoa mwanamke ambaye alikuwa amebakisha masaa machache ili aage dunia…wapendwa tukiwaambia hili jambo si la kawaida na lifanyiwe haraka iwezekanavyo, operation inaendelea ili hawa watu wapate haki,” added Katana.
According to the detectives, the operation is expected to run through the next three days amid fears that the discovery was just the tip of the iceberg, and that there could be more bodies lying in shallow graves across the 800 acre land.
The police intend to exhume the bodies from the shallow graves for further investigations and to facilitate justice.
Some families still looking for their loved ones have joined the police in the search hoping they will find them in good health.
“Namtafuta mamangu na ndugu zangu watatu, walikuja huku mwaka juzi lakini nikijaribu kuwatafuta hawakutaka nijue wako wapi…na kufikia sahii tumewatafuta hatujawapata. Nina imani nitawapata, naomba kuwapata wakiwa hai,” said Patience Zawadi.
So far 10 members of the cult have died after starving themselves in an attempt to meet God as advised by Pastor Mackenzie; others are still in hospital undergoing treatment.
Pastor Mackenzie and some of his followers are in custody at the Malindi Police Station as detectives sought for more time to carry out investigations.
