Four more bodies were exhumed on Monday, August 25, 2025, at Kwa Binzaro Village in Kilifi County, raising the total number of confirmed deaths to 13.

The operation was led by Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, who confirmed that police have arrested 11 people linked to the cult-like activities in the area.

“We’ve arrested the main culprit, the lady who was operating here, and also 10 others. So we have a total of 11 people who are with us. Investigations are going on, and also we really want to investigate and establish who sold this land to her, because this is Jakama Ranch,” said Onyancha.

The exhumation exercise, carried out by a multi-agency team, continued on Monday as officials combed through thick bushes bordering the Shakahola forest. In addition to the four bodies, eight more body parts were recovered, bringing the total number of body parts to 18.

Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the victims were previously rescued during the infamous Shakahola incident but later returned to cult activities. According to Onyancha, rejection by family and community members may have pushed them back.

“Some of them were not fully accepted by their families or communities where they come from, and that led them to come back to this area. Of course, they didn’t go to where we had the first incident. You can see they came further inside,” she explained.

Fear hampers local cooperation

The development has raised further concern in a county still reeling from the Shakahola tragedy. Civil rights activist Walid Sketty noted that fear among locals was hindering investigations.

“We’ve interrogated many locals, and they actually fear giving out information to the government, because they feel that whenever they talk, they’re actually among the people that are being held, that are actually put in custody for basically giving information to the government,” Sketty said.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations Homicide Department has already mapped out 37 suspected graves at Kwa Binzaro. Officials say the search and recovery operation will continue on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

The grim discovery adds to growing pressure on authorities to stamp out cult-linked activities in Kilifi, an area that has in recent years been rocked by chilling exhumations and mass deaths.