Seven bodies were exhumed from three graves in Shakahola, Kilifi county pushing the death toll to 436.
The exhumation took place on Monday in the Shakahola Forest as part of phase five of the ongoing process. According to government pathologist Johansen Oduor, approximately 50 graves have been marked for exhumation in the area.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights had previously urged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to authorize the resumption of the pending exhumation of bodies in Shakahola, Kilifi. In their report titled “Mashaka ya Shakahola,” the commission also recommended the release of the bodies to their respective next of kin for burial.
The grim task of exhuming the bodies began after a search and rescue operation conducted between April 25, 2023, and October 2023. During this period, authorities simultaneously unearthed bodies from various mass graves. By the end of the operation, a total of 429 bodies had been exhumed, while 67 adults and 25 children were rescued from dire circumstances.
