Fresh graves unearthed in Kenya near Shakahola cult tragedy

Fresh graves unearthed near the Shakahola Forest tragedy-site in Kenya
Kilifi County, Kenya — Authorities in Kenya have uncovered new shallow graves in a remote area of southeastern Kenya, raising alarm that the horrors of the 2023 cult-massacre at Shakahola may be resurfacing. Investigations in the village of Kwa Binzaro, near Malindi in Kilifi County, revealed at least five bodies exhumed so far from a weather-beaten site where detectives say more remains may lie buried.
The background of the discovery echoes the earlier mass-burial scandal in 2023 tied to cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and his group, who allegedly instructed followers to starve themselves to meet Jesus in the Shakahola Forest area.
In the current case, crime-scene teams say they have identified around 27 suspected grave-pits and exhumed 32 bodies and over 100 body parts so far.
Officials believe the site may be linked to the same extremist religious network, though investigations are ongoing.
The reaction has been one of deep concern and grief. Families of missing persons from the earlier Shakahola scandal are once again haunted by uncertainty as the new findings raise fears of a continuing cult operation. Human rights groups have called this a betrayal of the state’s duty to protect vulnerable citizens.
The government has pledged to intensify monitoring of religious groups and conduct forensic analysis, including DNA testing, to identify victims.
Looking ahead, the implications are profound. Authorities must determine whether this is a fresh outbreak of the same cult-driven killings, a splinter group, or a copycat operation. The challenge lies not only in unearthing and identifying victims, but in strengthening regulatory oversight over fringe religious movements, improving intelligence in remote rural zones, and providing timely intervention for vulnerable followers. If the state fails to break the cycle, the risk remains that further mass graves could surface, deepening trauma for communities in the region.