After two years of painful waiting, families affected by the Shakahola tragedy have finally begun the heartbreaking process of collecting the remains of their loved ones. The tragedy, linked to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, claimed hundreds of lives in what has been described as one of Kenya’s worst cult-related disasters.
On Thursday, grief-stricken families gathered at the Malindi Mortuary to identify and receive the remains of their kin, marking the beginning of long-awaited burials and a slow journey toward closure.
According to authorities, at least 16 bodies have been released to families so far, while hundreds remain unidentified due to the lengthy DNA matching process.
Among those who received the remains of their loved ones is George Okaka, who collected the bodies of his wife and three children aged 15, 11, and 6. Holding back tears, Okaka recounted the painful journey of waiting for identification results since submitting DNA samples in March.
“I was here in March and brought DNA samples for my five children and wife. For now, the bodies of four — three children and their mother — have been found. At this point, I am only making burial plans,” he said.
Okaka revealed that his wife got involved with Mackenzie’s teachings in 2019 while they lived in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, where she worked as a casual labourer. He is still waiting for the identification of two of his children who remain missing.
Authorities have pledged to continue the identification and release process to help the affected families achieve closure. Meanwhile, investigations into the Shakahola tragedy are ongoing, with calls for justice and accountability for the lives lost in the cult’s deadly teachings.
