Families of over 400 victims of the Shakahola cult massacre will finally receive their loved ones' bodies today, nearly a year after the disturbing incident came to light.
This comes after pathologists released DNA results for exhumed bodies in February, allowing families to bury their loved ones.
Dr. Johansen Oduor, the government pathologist in charge of the postmortem process, met with a multi-sectoral team involved in the investigation to prepare for the next phase of exhumations.
Giving his account of the identification process, Dr. Oduor stated that one of the most difficult challenges was a lack of cooperation from family members due to the stigma associated with the cause of death, which was linked to cultism.
Meanwhile, main suspect Pastor Paul Mackenzie and his 95 co-accused remain detained as authorities step up their investigations
Some of the charges they face in court include engaging in organized criminal activity, radicalization, and facilitating the commission of a terrorist act, all of which are violations of the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2012 and the Prevention of Organized Crime Act of 2010.
More than 425 people have been confirmed dead in the suspected cult, and over 600 people are still missing.
The cult, which has existed for eons, came under intense national scrutiny in 2023 when two children died in the care of their parents after Mackenzie instructed members of his church to starve themselves in order to "meet Jesus".