Kilifi County has announced plans to conduct a mass burial for 443 victims of the Shakahola massacre by December. The county executive committee member for health, Peter Mwarogo, stated that the bodies have remained in the county's custody since they were first retrieved from the Shakahola forest.
Families searching for relatives who died during the 2023 Shakahola massacre have been given a 21-day deadline to identify and collect the remains. The county announced the deadline on September 21, 2026, outlining its intention to inter the unclaimed bodies. The remains were preserved at Malindi Sub-County.
The decision has sparked concern among local communities, with many fearing that the deadline may be too short for families to locate and claim their loved ones. The massacre, which occurred in 2023, remains a sensitive and unresolved issue for those affected.
The county has not provided further details on the logistics of the burial or the support available to families during the identification process. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing the aftermath of violent incidents.
