Kilifi Authorities Probe Suspected Cult After Body and Skulls Found

Kilifi County is grappling with renewed anxieties over religious extremism after authorities launched an urgent investigation into a suspected cult operating in Binzaro village, Chakama location, following the discovery of a body and human remains. 

The operation, prompted by a tip-off from local residents, has already led to the rescue of four severely emaciated individuals and the recovery of two human skulls, intensifying concerns about a potential resurgence of the circumstances that led to the Shakahola massacre in 2023. Kilifi County Commissioner Josephat Biwott is heading the investigation, supported by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The focus is a secluded five-acre plot approximately seven kilometres from the Malindi–Sala Gate highway. 

Investigators have described the site as eerily reminiscent of the Shakahola forest enclave once occupied by the followers of Paul Mackenzie. The compound comprises three mud-walled houses with iron sheet roofs but devoid of windows, a makeshift chicken coop, and an outdoor cooking area. The absence of beds and a crude toilet hidden in nearby thickets suggest the occupants lived under austere and potentially coercive conditions. The presence of dozens of jerry cans and solar lamps further indicated a self-contained, off-grid lifestyle.

The body recovered at the site has been identified as that of a 50-year-old man. His legs had been bound with rope, and the body covered with a mattress. Two skulls were found in nearby thickets, heightening suspicions of additional unmarked graves. The DCI has secured the site and is seeking court orders to conduct forensic exhumations and preserve evidence.

Among those rescued is Jairus Otieno, a man previously reported missing in Siaya County. Otieno had relocated to the area with his wife and six children, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Otieno’s attempt to contact family members using a borrowed phone led to the exposure of the compound’s activities. Local residents, alarmed by his condition and revelations, detained two women who later confessed to fleeing the homestead.

According to Otieno, his youngest child was taken into the forest at night. His subsequent attempt to intervene was blocked by unidentified men, raising fears that the forest may conceal further atrocities. Community elder Kahindi Beja noted longstanding suspicions about unexplained deaths in the area. These deaths, previously attributed to wildlife, are now believed to be linked to human activity.

A woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, considered the prime suspect, was arrested in Kisauni, Mombasa County. She is believed to have purchased the land earlier this year under suspicious circumstances. Three individuals involved in the land transaction and four others found at the compound have also been detained, bringing the total number of suspects to eleven.

Authorities are probing potential links between this new case and the Shakahola tragedy, which was orchestrated by self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie. Mackenzie’s cult, operating under the guise of the Good News International Church, promoted starvation as a path to salvation. The 2023 massacre led to the exhumation of 429 bodies, including children, and prompted widespread calls for reform in the regulation of religious organisations.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has acknowledged the gravity of the situation, commending local residents for their vigilance. He confirms that the government is developing strategies to mitigate security risks in the 50,000-acre Chakama area, which includes both Binzaro and Shakahola. Although the land is privately owned, officials are engaging title deed holders to determine appropriate interventions.

Human rights advocates have warned of a “Shakahola Two,” citing reports that some individuals previously detained have resumed indoctrination efforts. Otieno and his wife were reportedly rescued during the 2023 operation but vanished again earlier this year, suggesting gaps in post-rescue support and surveillance.