Unsung heroes: These detectives cracked Shakahola open

Located just a two-hour drive away from Malindi town, the forensic teams make a turn from the paved road into a thicket of thorn bushes, entering a crime scene that was brought to light in mid-March.

When the detectives arrived in Kilifi County on April 18th, their sole task was to exhume a grave related to the initially reported deaths of two boys in Shakaloha. This assignment was initially estimated to take around three days.

However, since then, a staggering 427 bodies have been uncovered from the dense vegetation of Shakahola, a region encompassed within the 50,000-acre Chakama ranch. Upon their initial entry into the forest, they chose to scout the area with the assistance of former members of the Good News International Church. As the days went by, more graves were identified.

The search for graves was met with considerable challenges due to the lack of passable roads in the area. Consequently, the teams were obliged to abandon their vehicles on the road and trek over 20km into the forest.

Strange and chilling experiences

The Shakahola cult remains enigmatic, characterized by eerie and unsettling details that continually provoke inquiries. Detectives and police officers shared their insights on the Shakahola puzzle and recounted some of their strange and chilling experiences, all while maintaining anonymity as they’re not permitted to engage with the media.

Since the investigations began, Sam*, a member of the security detail, has been piecing together information. She says the aspect that deeply troubles her is the deceased children and the subsequent trauma and psychological strain that follows.

“Since my childhood, I had always known I wanted to become a detective. The concept of solving real cases involving real people, and conducting suspect interviews – it all exhilarated me like nothing else. Helping people has been a lifelong ambition. However, the Shakahola case is an unparalleled experience,” said Sam.

“The bodies of children remind me of my family. Those children who perished here carried numerous hopes and dreams that were cruelly stolen from them,” she shared, her head nodding in agreement.

Continuing, she recounted a time when people began to succumb abruptly, and the team was assigned the somber task of gathering skeletal remains.

I struggled to find sleep

“After we collected the skeletal remains, it deeply affected me, and I struggled to find sleep. Nightmares plagued me, and I dreamt of being whipped. Upon waking, I’d find my legs in pain due to the struggles in my dreams.” 

Many detectives would assert that they’ve seen everything. Their line of work exposes them to the full spectrum of experiences the world has to offer – ranging from the strange to the amusing to the unsettling. However, Shakahola presents a distinct type of malevolence, shared by another detective.

“I’ve encountered an array of things in Shakahola – things that could lead one to question my sanity. From identifying graves to exhuming decomposed bodies to collecting human skeletons,” said a security detail who has been actively involved in the search and rescue operations in Shakahola.

Detectives are presently assembling pieces of evidence and preparing comprehensive reports. The team is scheduled to return to the Shakahola forest starting next week for the sixth phase of exhumation.