Kenyans were in 2023 shocked by findings of numerous individuals buried in shallow graves within Shakahola Forest, part of Chakama Ranch in Kilifi County, near Malindi Town.

The discovery was linked to a religious sect led by Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie.

The cult leader had founded Good News International Ministries and secured registration by the Registrar of Societies as a ministry in 2010.

In 2019, the ministry relocated to Shakahola ranch, where people were lured with the promise of cheap and affordable arable land.

At Shakahola, the preacher embarked on intense indoctrination and radicalisation by declaring a fasting regime that would culminate in the supposed ascension to heaven of the followers.

The children were to be the first to die, followed by women, then the men, and finally, Pastor Mackenzie, an armed militia, buried those who succumbed to starvation.

Those who defied the fasting directive or attempted to escape were strangled or clobbered to death.

People were convinced to abandon their livelihoods and dispose of their life savings, while others were persuaded to destroy their vital documents such as birth certificates, national IDs, passports, title deeds, academic documents and marriage certificates.

A nine-month assessment report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) concluded that the State failed to protect its citizens from harm and abuse because it did not ensure that religion is not manifested in a way that violates other rights, including life, security and health.

According to the KNCHR, the negligence and failure of the criminal justice system, which released MacKenzie several times after he had been arrested or failed to expedite hearings against him, and the national security and administration structures left the followers exposed to harm, injury and abuse.

“They [police] not only failed to be proactive in collecting and acting on intelligence to forestall the Shakahola massacre but also unjustifiably failed to act on credible and actionable reports provided by various sources,” KNHCR said.

Despite various recommendations to churches, Parliament and the government to appoint a team to examine the matter, nothing seems to have been done.

Reports of new graves, skulls and secrets in Binzaro reawaken the horrors of Shakahola.