Tears as four relatives who died in Shakahola starvation cult buried

Emotions ran high as four family members who perished in the Shakahola starvation cult were laid to rest at their home in Muyeye village near Malindi High school in Kilifi.

The usually tranquil Muyeye village on the outskirts of Malindi Tourist Resort, burst into primal screams of grief as the van ferrying remains of the four slowly drove through the neighbourhood to the deceased’ homestead, where hundreds of visibly scared-stiff mourners awaited in shock and disbelief.

Speaking at the burial, Francis Wanje, who became the whistle-blower of the Shakahola tragedy a year ago, recounted the chilling events that led to the loss of his daughter, Emily Kahunda, her son Seth Ngala, Esther Byria (Emily’s mother-in-law), and her son Harry Ngonyo.

 It all started with a distress call from Emily, seeking help for a family crisis.

 “I responded and visited the home to know what the matter was. We had a sitting with the family and my daughter revealed to me that her husband had withdrawn their children from school. I am a teacher and wouldn’t want my grandchildren to stop going to school,” recalled Wanje.

Despite his efforts to intervene, the situation only worsened. The family’s descent into the darkness of the cult was gradual but relentless. Emily’s husband withdrew their children from school, and financial woes crept in. Concerned, Wanje sought assistance from the local chief, only to find his pleas falling on deaf ears.

“At some point since I lived in Mombasa I had to call my sister in- law, Pheny, who came with a pastor and they tried to solve the issues. However, my daughter was increasingly defiant and furious. Whenever they challenged her with Biblical verses she responded with her own verse and even asked which Bible they read until everyone was shocked,” Wanje explained that her sister- in-law called him and said Emily had become too difficult to reason with.

 Emily’s defiance grew, and she eventually cut ties with her family, moving to an unknown location with her family.

One day, he travelled to Malindi to follow up on the issue, however, he was shocked to find that the family had left and no one seemed to know of their whereabouts.

In 2021, Wanje attended a relative’s funeral in Matsangoni area where he met Emily for the first time since they migrated.  He described her appearance then as hydrated, haggard and emaciated. Her hair was shaved and she looked sick.

Her once vibrant spirit was now a shadow, her appearance gaunt and sickly. Despite efforts to bring her back, Emily remained ensnared in the cult’s grip, hiding behind a facade of a better life in Tana River.

Tragedy struck on March 17, 2023, when news broke of the cult’s sinister activities in Shakahola Forest.

Wanje received a distress call from his son, Moses, revealing the horrifying truth: his family members were being forced to starve to death. In the end, eight lives were lost, leaving a community shattered and grieving.

As the caskets were lowered into the ground, the once tranquil Muyeye village echoed with the cries of mourners, united in sorrow.