Authorities in Kenya have recovered at least five bodies from shallow graves at a site believed to be connected to a religious cult, reigniting concerns over one of the country’s darkest tragedies.
Excavations resumed Friday near Malindi in Kilifi County, southeastern Kenya close to the infamous Shakahola Forest, where over 400 bodies were unearthed in 2023 in a mass cult-related incident. The current site is suspected to hold more victims of the same doomsday group.
Government pathologist Dr. Richard Njoroge reported that six graves were exhumed during the latest operation, yielding five bodies and ten scattered human remains found on the surface nearby.
“We began with 27 suspected graves. Today, we’ve managed to exhume six,” Njoroge said, adding, “We expect more bodies as the search continues across this vast area.”
In a July statement, Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions suggested that the victims may have died from starvation and suffocation, driven by extreme religious beliefs promoted within the cult.
At least 11 individuals are currently under investigation in connection with the deaths. Local residents had raised alarms after several children went missing, prompting authorities to launch the latest round of excavations.
The Shakahola tragedy remains one of the most devastating cult-related events in recent history, and the new findings suggest its impact may be even broader than previously known.
