Families who endured the tragedy of the Shakahola massacre are one step closer to finding closure, as experts have now identified 40 bodies through DNA analysis. This development comes nearly eight months after the commencement of investigations into the tragic deaths.
Government chemist officials stated that more relatives of the identified victims will be notified as the identification process continues.
Only 40 DNA samples from families of victims have so far matched with the bodies preserved at the Malindi sub-county hospital mortuary.
Anxious relatives who suspect their kin to be part of the bodies that were exhumed have urged the government to expedite the process of facilitating the identification, handover, and subsequent burial of the victims.
Government analysis reports of the identified victims so far indicate that most of them succumbed to starvation.
Even as the DNA analysis progresses, reports have indicated that 35 more graves are yet to be exhumed in the Shakahola forest. This is because the Malindi sub-county hospital morgue has reached full capacity.
It has not been ascertained when the exhumation will resume to allow more tests to determine whose bodies still lie in Shakahola.
Meanwhile, controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his associates are expected to be arraigned on Monday, January 22, to face additional charges at the Mombasa Law Courts.
