Shock as Kwa Binzaro Victims Found Buried Face Up

The horrors linked to Shakahola, a name now associated with religious extremism in Kenya, have re-emerged with the discovery of shallow graves in the nearby village of Kwa Binzaro. 

Located about 27 kilometres from the original Shakahola site, this finding raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of government efforts to combat cult activities and the persistent appeal of such groups in the country. The expansive Chakama Ranch, a largely uninhabited and poorly resourced region, appears to have offered a safe haven for extremist beliefs to flourish. 

Despite government efforts to secure Shakahola following the arrest of Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, the movement seems to have simply relocated, targeting vulnerable individuals seeking spiritual guidance. The distance of Kwa Binzaro from the nearest police station, around 30 kilometres away, further complicates efforts to detect and respond to such activities.

The discoveries in Kwa Binzaro are deeply troubling. Forensic teams have so far exhumed nine bodies, with evidence pointing to as many as 27 burial sites spread across three homesteads. Unlike the burial practices seen in Shakahola, victims here were buried naked in shallow pits, barely a foot deep, suggesting a hurried attempt to hide the evidence and speed up decomposition. 

The foresnsic teams have further unearthed children’s remains, including six minors from one family. Clothing items found in a damp grave near the main suspect’s home also suggest a recent and rushed effort to destroy evidence. As forensic teams continue their work in Kwa Binzaro, the bodies of 419 victims from Shakahola remain unburied at the Malindi Sub-County Morgue.