The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has faulted the government over the Shakahola graves operations saying that the arrest of people in the forest was scaring away would-be survivors.
“It is saddening to observe that the operations so far have focused on exhumation of the dead rather than rescue of the living. Reports that come to the commission suggest that there are many people still in the forest and because of fear of arrest they have resided deep into the forest,” she said at a press briefing in Malindi town on Wednesday morning.
Prof. Marion Mutugi, a commissioner at KNCHR said that the commission will stand with victims of the Paul Mackenzie cult where people were being subjected to marathon fasting with anticipation to meet Jesus Christ.
According to the commission, the operations in Shakahola were more focused on exhumation of bodies and arrests instead of rescuing survivors, hence making would be survivors retreat deeper into the thickets.
She recommended a change of strategy to focus on the rescue operations with official statements indicating that more than 500 people might be trapped or hiding in the 800 forest far.
She commended the local community, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media for whistle blowing the Shakahola tragedy.
You Prof. Mutugi called for investigations on all religious activities in the country pointing up the Vumbu incident in Kwale that cropped out recently.
