Families of victims of the Shakahola massacre on Thursday continued the painful process of collecting the remains of their loved ones from the Malindi Mortuary, nearly two years after the tragedy that shocked the nation.
Among them was the family of George Keya Okaka, who received the remains of four of his relatives — his wife and three children aged 15, 11, and 6 — after months of agonising waiting.
“Nilikuwa hapa mwezi wa tatu nikaleta DNA kwa ajili ya watoto wangu watano na mke wangu. Kwa sasa miili imepatikana ni nne: watoto watatu na mama. Kwa saa hii ni mipango ya mazishi,”
said Okaka, struggling to hold back tears.
According to human rights groups, 16 bodies have now been released to families, while at least 60 victims have been positively identified through DNA tests. However, more than 300 bodies remain unclaimed as the slow process of identification continues.
For Okaka, the tragedy runs deep. He recounted how his wife became increasingly drawn to the teachings of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie in 2019 while working as a casual labourer in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.
Despite relocating the family to Makongeni in a desperate attempt to distance her from the cult’s influence, she eventually fled their home in Kakamega in 2023, taking their five children to join Mackenzie’s followers in the Shakahola Forest — where they died.
“Alitoa watoto kwa shule akasema ata madawa hayafai. 2023 ndio alitoka kwa nyumba yangu,”
Okaka recalled, now hoping the bodies of his two remaining children — aged four and eight months — will also be found.
Human rights activists are urging families with missing relatives to come forward and provide DNA samples to help speed up the identification process.
“Kile kinachoendelea ni DNA testing. Ile miili iko hapa ni mingi sana. So far 60 bodies ndio imematch. Kuna more than 300 bodies ambazo bado kutambuliwa,”
said Walid Sketty, a human rights activist.
Mathias Shipeta, Rapid Response Officer at Haki Afrika, emphasized the importance of the ongoing exercise.
“Process hii ni muhimu kwa sababu ile kesi inayoendelea, majina ya waliofariki itakuwa important,” he said.
Mortuary officials confirmed that three families successfully identified their relatives’ remains on Thursday as preparations for transportation and burial continue. The release of more bodies is expected to proceed in the coming days.
The Shakahola massacre, linked to self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, remains one of Kenya’s deadliest tragedies in recent years. More than 400 bodies have been recovered from shallow graves in the Shakahola Forest, where followers of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church were allegedly encouraged to starve to death in order to “meet Jesus.”
Investigations and court proceedings against Mackenzie and his associates are still ongoing.
