A Malindi court has officially allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to exhume bodies believed to be buried in shallow graves in the Binzaro area of Makongeni, Malindi. The court order marks a major step forward in the investigation into a suspected religious cult operating in the region.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, July 30, by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), Resident Magistrate Irene Thamara approved the DCI’s request to begin exhumation at the suspected burial site.
This was done to support ongoing investigations into what authorities believe is a case involving a dangerous religious cult linked to multiple deaths.
The magistrate directed the chief government pathologist to lead the exhumation process. The bodies will undergo postmortem examinations, DNA profiling, and toxicology tests.
These forensic investigations aim to uncover the actual causes of death, which investigators suspect may involve starvation, suffocation, or poisoning.
Prosecutor Judy Gachuru told the court that early evidence points to a disturbing pattern of organized criminal activity disguised as religion.
She revealed that the victims might have been murdered through starvation or suffocation, and that the group’s operations reflect elements of radicalisation, religious extremism, and possible links to terrorism.
Since the probe began, authorities have identified at least 11 individuals as key suspects in the cult’s leadership.
These suspects are under investigation for a range of serious offenses, including orchestrating a criminal enterprise, encouraging extremist beliefs, facilitating terrorism, and participating in multiple murders.
Initial findings indicate that the victims may have been persuaded or forced to adopt extreme religious practices, which ultimately led to their deaths.
Investigators were alarmed to learn from rescued victims that many of them could not locate their children. This raised fears that the children might be among those buried in the shallow graves now under investigation.
“Our ongoing investigations have revealed what appear to be several hidden graves where bodies were secretly buried,” read a statement in an affidavit submitted by one of the DCI officers working on the case.
Based on these troubling developments, the DCI asked the court for permission to perform forensic tests on the recovered remains. The aim is to determine how the victims died, whether foul play was involved, and to confirm their identities through DNA testing.
Magistrate Thamara also ordered the Officer Commanding Malindi Police Division and the Officer Commanding Lango Baya Police Station to ensure maximum security at the exhumation site.
This is to safeguard the integrity of the investigation and to protect both the forensic team and the public during the delicate operation.
Additionally, the court instructed the Public Health Officer in Malindi to supervise the entire exhumation process, making sure that health and safety protocols are followed.
All recovered bodies will be preserved at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital for detailed forensic analysis.
This suspected cult has drawn comparisons to the infamous Shakahola religious cult, which was led by controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie.
In the Shakahola case, more than 400 bodies—many of them children—were discovered in 2023, shocking the nation and the world. Mackenzie is currently facing trial for his alleged role in that tragedy.
Interestingly, some of the individuals rescued from the Binzaro location are believed to have previously been part of the Shakahola cult, further fueling suspicions that this latest case may be connected to the same radical religious network.
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