At least 24 bodies exhumed in five days at Kwa Binzaro, Kilifi

Five more bodies were exhumed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of bodies exhumed in five days at Kwa Binzaro in Kilifi County to 24.

The new developments have so far shocked many as the burials took place few kilometers away from an operation that had been staged against similar issue in the Shakahola Forest.

Government pathologist Dr. Richard Njoroge said several body parts were also recovered and will be profiled to determine if they match the exhumed bodies.

The four graves exhumed on Wednesday contained five bodies, while one skull was found on the surface, bringing to 21 the total number of body parts collected so far.

“We also collected many body parts scattered around the perimeter of the graves. Those will also be processed through DNA to see if they match any of the body parts we collected,” said Dr. Njoroge.

Police had on Monday arrested 11 people, including one woman believed to be the owner of the land where homicide detectives had mapped out 27 graves. Preliminary investigations indicated that some of the victims had earlier been rescued from Shakahola Forest, which borders Kwa Binzaro village.

“Tumeongea na wananchi to strengthen community policing and the Nyumba Kumi initiative that is ongoing in small groups, wale wote wanakaa kwa hii shamba and the rest that are coming from outside,” said Kilifi County Commissioner Josphat Biwott.

Some 20 graves have so far been exhumed. The exercise will continue on Thursday.

This comes amid ongoing prosecution of suspects over the Shakahola massacre where at least 400 bodies were exhumed.