Image: COURTESY
It was a joyous moment for Joyce Nyatich when she came face to face with her husband who had been missing for six months.
Nyatich, who is from Kisii, has been in Malindi for days to trace her husband. She could not hide her joy when police came with five people who had been rescued from the vast Shakahola forest.
Hundreds of people, who are believed to be followers of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, are hiding in the forest while" fasting and praying to die."
At least 67 people have so far been confirmed dead from the cultic practice by Mackenzie, who is currently being held at Malindi police station.
Nyatich recognised her frail-looking husband from the five people who had been rescued. However, journalists did not have an opportunity to interview the man.
He was held as the police awaited a Kenya Red Cross ambulance to transfer the rescued victims to Malindi Subcounty Hospital.
Nyatich said her husband left Kisii in October last year.
“My in-laws have been demanding that I leave go look for their son. I cannot believe I have found him alive. I’m overwhelmed with joy,” Nyatich said, before police officers cut short the interview.
The rescued man is among the nine, who had been rescued on Monday as the police continued with an operation to flush out Mackenzie’s followers hiding in the forest.
Pastor Steve Mwaniki, a relative of one of the members of Mackenzie’s followers, is hoping to see his sister, her husband and their grandson.
Mwaniki told journalists he had been in communication with his sister until Sunday, when she picked up his call, but could not speak.
“I later got a text from her saying the three of them were alive,” Mwaniki said.
He has since reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation for tracking.
"At first he told me to wait until June when they will have completed their mission of going to heaven. My only hope is they are still alive," he said.
During the ongoing operation, a man believed to be a senior pastor at Mackenzie’s church was arrested while reading a Bible within a section of the vast forest.
Pastor Zablon Wa Yesu is under police custody. The officers said he is believed to have been helping Pastor Mackenzie in recruiting followers.
According to sources, the senior member of the Good News International Church, wondered why he was being arrested. He was among people who were found alive on Monday. He becomes the second senior individual to be arrested after Mackenzie.
This comes at a time when the death toll of the victims who have died while fasting in the forest has surpassed 67.
By 3pm Monday, police officers had exhumed 59 bodies of people who had been buried in shallow graves inside that forest.
On Monday, 20 bodies were exhumed. Police said six were found in one grave.
Between Friday and Sunday, the police had exhumed 39 bodies; Friday seven bodies, Saturday 14 bodies and Sunday 18.
The ones who have died after being rescued are eight people; four died on April 15, when the police raided the village for the first time and an additional four died while undergoing treatment at Malindi Subcounty Hospital.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on Monday visited the area accompanied by Director of Criminal Investigations Amin Mohammed.
Today (Tuesday), Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki is expected to tour the area.
On Sunday, Kindiki directed the Coast regional commissioner and the regional security team to reinforce the team in Malindi.
“Enough security officers have been deployed and the entire 800-acre forest is sealed off and declared a scene of the crime,” he said.
He said the unfolding Shakahola forest massacre is the clearest abuse of freedom of worship.
He said while the State remains respectful of religious freedom, “this horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrator(s) of the atrocity on so many innocent souls, but tighter regulation.”
