Raila blocked from accessing Shakahola mass graves site

By Peter Ochieng

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leader, Raila Odinga was on Friday blocked from accessing the site of mass graves in Shakahola, Kilifi County.

Odinga had landed in the area alongside a section of local politicians, but his bid to see the site hit a dead end as police blocked his entry.

The former Prime Minister protested the move.

“I want to access the forest so that I can be able to see the graves, I can't travel all the way and go back without seeing the scene,” said the ODM party leader.

However, police led by Peter Ndung’u, senior assistant inspector general of police stood their ground.

Ndung'u is the commander in charge of police operation in Shakahola forest.

He urged Odinga and his team to seek permission from Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Professor Abraham Kithure Kindiki.

“No one is allowed in the forest because the investigation process is delicate,” said Ndung’u.

Recently, Kindiki declared Shakohola forest a scene of crime, as police continue to exhume bodies of people who were fasting to 'death to meet Jesus.'

He barred journalists and other members of the public from accessing the site.

Over 100 bodies have been exhumed from shallow graves in the vast forest.

They are believed to be followers of controversial Pastor, Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International (GNI) 'church.'

They were allegedly brainwashed into fasting by Mackenzie and his close associates, who were ironically not fasting.

Police have rescued a dozen of emaciated people in the forest.