Prof. Kithure Kindiki, the Interior Cabinet Secretary, has revealed that autopsies will be performed on the additional 123 bodies exhumed from Shakahola forest next week.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the CS stated that the ongoing exhumation process at the site of the mass graves has been temporarily halted to allow for autopsies to be performed.
“Only the search for graves and exhumation of Shakahola Massacre victims has been suspended to allow for logistical arrangements for the post-mortem examination of the additional 123 bodies recovered in Phase 2 of the exhumation exercise,” he explained.
“Phase 2 post-mortems will commence on Wednesday 24th May 2023 at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital.”
He added that the exhumation process will resume after the post-mortems are conducted.
He also sought to clarify that, in the meantime, the search and rescue of members of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzi’s Good News International Church cult are continuing as normal.
“The search for and rescue of survivors within Shakahola Forest and the Chakama Ranch generally will continue uninterrupted and will be extended into the edges of the neighboring Tsavo East National Park in the coming days using ground and drone search,” he said.
“Grave search and exhumation shall resume on conclusion of Phase 2 postmodern exercise.”
This came after eight more bodies were exhumed, taking the number of deaths resulting from the tragedy to 235.
