Authorities have arrested 11 suspects in connection with the mysterious deaths reported in Kwa Binzaro, Kilifi County, as the region continues to grapple with suspected cult-related activities. Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, who is spearheading the operation, confirmed the arrests, noting that among those detained is a woman believed to be at the center of the alleged cult network.
Onyancha revealed that preliminary investigations are underway to establish how the woman acquired the land where the activities took place, since the parcel is part of Chakama Ranch. The government is now pursuing leads on potential collaborators who may have facilitated the sale or allocation of the land illegally.
“The woman at the center of the operation, alongside ten others, is helping us with investigations. We are particularly interested in knowing how she obtained the land and the extent of her involvement in these cult activities,” Onyancha stated.
Investigators have also unearthed disturbing details suggesting that some of the victims were not new to such cult-related gatherings. According to Onyancha, preliminary reports indicate that several individuals who perished in Kwa Binzaro had previously been rescued during the Shakahola operation in 2023. However, many of them reportedly returned to cult activities, possibly due to rejection by their families or lack of reintegration support from their communities.
This revelation has raised concerns about gaps in rehabilitation and follow-up mechanisms for survivors of cult indoctrination. Religious extremism and cult-related deaths have remained a painful issue for Kilifi, with the Shakahola massacre still fresh in national memory.
Onyancha assured the public that security agencies are on high alert to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies. “We will ensure that justice is served and that no one takes advantage of vulnerable citizens again,” she affirmed.
