Nairobi — The ongoing security operation in Kilifi's Shakahola forest could unearth many more bodies and possibly dwarf figures reported so far, projections have shown.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Tuesday there could be many more graves hidden in the vast forest as the exhumation, search and rescue efforts for the followers of controversial televangelist Paul Mackenzie resumed.
Speaking when he oversaw the resumption of the second phase of the exhumation exercise, Kindiki said the discovery of over 100 bodies from the 800-acre forest points to a well-coordinated crime.
He said the government will work to ensure all victims -- dead or alive -- are accounted for as government seeks to consolidate a terrorism case against Mackenzie and his aides over the starvation cult.
Kindiki reiterated the government's resolve to bring all those responsible to book to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
"I am afraid that we have many more graves in this forest, and therefore it leads us to conclude that this was a highly organized crime and I assure the country that the government of Kenya will do whatever it takes to unravel this organized criminal activity that has costed us all these people and counting," he said.
While defending government's decision to restrict access into the mass grave site, Kindiki said that the ongoing exhumation process is a legal exercise and must be undertaken methodically, lawfully and carefully to protect the dignity and privacy of families of the deceased persons.
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"For the search and rescue, the limitation is for the safety of those people taking part in the exercise and for the exhumation is for the legal, medical and security ethics reasons," he said.
Access to information
Even with limited access, Kindiki assured the public that the government will avail all information on the ongoing exercise pointing out that "the government has nothing to hide."
Kindiki said that effective Tuesday the government had resolved to increase the number of media personnel getting access to the site to two who will be spending time with the multi-agency teams taking part in the exercise each day.
The media teams will be under the direct supervision of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Homicide Unit Director.
The Interior CS further stated that the Kenya Red Cross will also be allowed in the site and two representatives from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and civil society groups.
"We are taking these measures to show we have nothing to hide, nothing that we are doing under the table, but we have certain limitations which are required by law, medical and security ethics," he said.
Kindiki pointed out that 65 persons had been rescued from the thickets since the exercise began including two who were evacuated Tuesday morning by the multi-agency security team.
He added that 25 people had so far been arrested pointing out that the investigation team is closing in on level-two and level-three perpetrators who aided Mackenzie to execute what has come to be known as the "Shakahola Forest Massacre."
Kindiki maintained that the entire 50,000-acre Chakama ranch which forms part of the Shakahola forest remains a security area and scene of crime.
