The government is set to release the bodies of the Shakahola victims that have been positively identified for burial.
Speaking on Wednesday at Malindi Sub County Hospital Funeral Home, the government pathologist Johansen Oduor said that 34 bodies have been identified.
He said the bodies will be released to families for burial starting on March 26, 2024.
"We are in the phase of releasing the bodies which have been identified. So far we have identified a total of 34 bodies which have been linked to relatives and we shall start releasing them from next week March, 26," he said.
Odour further added that the relatives have been contacted to pick up the bodies of their loved ones.
He said that they have also organised counselling for the affected families.
"The relatives have to come with a letter from the Chief to be able to identify them as the real relatives of the victims. They will also have to come with the person who donated the DNA because they are directly linked to the deceased," he added.
The government pathologist added that they have experienced the challenge of linking the bodies to the people who donated their DNA.
He, however, noted that the profiling of the bodies was ongoing.
He said that people have failed to turn up to claim their loved ones.
Oduor added that once the bodies are released they will embark on the next phase of exhumation.
In January, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared Good News International Ministries under Paul Mackenzie a criminal organized group.
Mackenzie and his followers are accused of ordering their followers to starve to death in Shakahola Forest.
The declaration was made through a gazette notice.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 (1) of the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Good News International Ministries to be an organized criminal group for the Act,” reads the notice.
CS Kindiki had earlier vowed to ensure everyone responsible for the Shakahola massacre is brought to book.
Mackenzie and 38 co-accused persons were charged with child cruelty, torture, and denying children the right to education.
All 39 accused persons denied all the charges levelled against them.
