How Kwa Binzaro graves reopened wounds of Shakahola massacre

 We are all candidates for next Shakahola massacre

The new bodies were recovered from graves in Kwa Binzaro, Kilifi, in August 2025. The discovery came almost three years after the Shakahola saga unfolded, a tragedy in which more than 400 bodies were exhumed from Shakahola Forest, leaving survivors, families, and the nation deeply traumatized.

At the new gravesite, at least 34 bodies were initially exhumed. Soon after, top security officials flew to the area following the developments and revealed that at least 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with what has since been referred to as the Kwa Binzaro massacre.

While inspecting the grave sites in Kilifi County, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said a total of 102 human remains, including skulls, had been recovered. Four of the 11 suspects in police custody were identified as main suspects, with the Inspector General announcing that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was intensifying investigations to establish the cause and motive of the deaths.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the majority of the victims of the Kwa Binzaro massacre are suspected to be non-locals. The grim development followed an admission of shortcomings by the National Police Service (NPS), which acknowledged that gaps in intelligence, investigations, and coordination among security agencies contributed to the tragedy.

Lessons from Shakahola resurface

Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said that, despite lessons drawn from the Shakahola tragedy that shocked the country, a similar situation had once again unfolded near the same area. The recurrence raised troubling questions about preparedness and response, nearly three years after the nation vowed never to allow such horrors again.

Police urged wananchi to report missing relatives to authorities to prevent more people from falling victim to extremist religious movements. Preliminary investigations also indicated that some of the victims had earlier been rescued from Shakahola Forest, which borders Kwa Binzaro village, only to later disappear.

This discovery has unfolded amid the ongoing prosecution of suspects linked to the Shakahola massacre, where at least 400 bodies were exhumed, many of them children.

Malindi Court authorizes exhumation of suspected fresh mass graves

A Malindi court granted the DCI permission to exhume bodies believed to be buried in shallow graves in the Binzaro area of Makongeni Sub-location, on the outskirts of the town.

Prosecution Counsel Judy Gachuru informed the court that investigators suspect multiple individuals were murdered through starvation and suffocation, pointing to a broader pattern of radicalization and organized criminal activity.

At least 11 suspects — Jairus Otieno Odere, Lilian Akinyi, Kahonzi Katana Karisa, Loice Zawadi, Safari Kenga Nzai, Karisa Gona Fondo, Gona Charo Kalama, Kahindi Kazungu Garama, Thomas Mukonwe, James Kahindi, and Sharleen Temba Anido — are under investigation for alleged involvement in organized crime, radicalization, facilitation of terrorism, and murder.

According to a sworn affidavit filed by the DCI, preliminary investigations suggest that the victims may have been starved and suffocated as a result of adopting and promoting extreme religious ideologies. The affidavit further notes that survivors rescued from the area were unable to account for the whereabouts of several children, raising suspicions of foul play.

The court was told that brief interviews conducted with rescued individuals revealed they could not reasonably explain the disappearance of the children. The DCI requested authorization to conduct forensic investigations on the exhumed bodies, including autopsies, DNA profiling, and toxicological tests, to establish the cause and manner of death.

The Shakahola tragedy revisited

In the Shakahola massacre case, several suspects continue to face numerous charges, including murder. The Shakahola Forest incident involved a religious cult led by Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, founder of Good News International Ministries, an apocalyptic Christian group.

The incident came to public attention in 2022 after reports were made at a local police station about mass graves in the area. A concerned man later reported that his wife and daughter, who had travelled from Nairobi to join the ministry in Kilifi County, had not returned.

When police investigated the community, they discovered emaciated individuals and shallow graves. Fifteen members were rescued and later revealed they had been instructed to starve themselves to death in order to “meet Jesus.” Despite rescue efforts, four of the followers died before reaching hospital due to their critical condition.

Over the following weeks, police searched the 800-acre property, uncovering more shallow graves and additional survivors who were starving. Many of the first bodies recovered were children, including graves believed to contain entire families. Authorities also discovered individuals who had been buried alive, as well as others still hiding in the forest while continuing to fast.

Testimonies later revealed that followers were instructed not to interact with the outside world, to destroy government documents, and to gather together to fast. Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki alleged that Mackenzie hired criminals to kill followers who attempted to leave or who delayed in dying.

Kenya, a deeply religious country where about 85 per cent of the population identifies as Christian, has previously grappled with cases of unregulated churches and cults exploiting vulnerable believers. As 2025 unfolds, the discoveries at Kwa Binzaro serve as a stark reflection of unresolved wounds, reminding the country that the shadow of Shakahola has yet to lift.

The matter remains pending in court, where Mackenzie and more than 90 of his followers face charges ranging from murder to involvement in organized crime, radicalization, and facilitation of terrorism