Kilifi County has once again been thrown into mourning after more bodies were discovered in shallow graves at Binzaro Forest, reigniting memories of the Shakahola massacre that shocked the nation less than two years ago.
Local leaders expressed outrage over what they termed a catastrophic failure of Kenya’s security and intelligence systems, accusing authorities of turning a blind eye as mass killings unfolded undetected.
“We cannot and must not normalise mass graves in Kilifi or anywhere in the country. How can history be allowed to repeat itself in such a brutal and shameful manner? This is not just a failure of security, it is a failure of humanity,” said Senate Minority Leader and Kilifi Senator, Stewart Madzayo.The leader questioned whether the new graves were linked to a copycat of the Shakahola cult or part of a wider criminal network using Kilifi as a dumping ground for bodies.
“People are being killed elsewhere and transported to Kilifi for burial. If so, then we are dealing with coordinated criminals who operate under the blind eye of those tasked to protect us,” added Madzayo.
Pointing fingers at the Inspector General of Police and the national government, the leaders demanded immediate answers on how such atrocities could recur despite the global outcry over Shakahola.
“How many more bodies must be dug out before the government admits there is a fundamental breakdown in intelligence? How can people be killed and buried in silence without raising a single alarm?” they posed.They further questioned why no suspects, including those allegedly transporting bodies into the forest, have been arrested.
Grim Backlog of Unburied Bodies
The leaders also raised alarm over the hundreds of bodies from the Shakahola massacre still stored in containers at Malindi Referral Hospital, saying the situation had paralysed operations and created a public health nightmare.
“For two years, more than 300 bodies have been lying in containers outside the hospital. Sometimes ambulances cannot even access the compound because of the congestion. How long will we keep these bodies? What message does this send to families bringing their sick to the facility?” one official asked.They urged the Interior Ministry to either facilitate proper burials or allow relatives to identify and claim the bodies.
“This is the saddest part of the saga. These are Kenyans, yet the government has left them abandoned like they do not matter,” they said.The leaders insisted that Kilifi residents were not reporting missing relatives, reinforcing their belief that the victims were killed elsewhere and dumped in the county. They demanded the government establish a permanent security presence in the affected areas to stop further atrocities.
“If the government is serious, let it move with speed—remove the bodies from Malindi Hospital, secure the forests, and explain to Kenyans who these victims are. Anything less is an insult to justice and an embarrassment to the country,” he said.They warned that continued silence from authorities would only deepen mistrust and further traumatise families in Kilifi.
“We will not rest until the truth is laid bare and those who failed to protect our people are held accountable,” the leaders declared.
