Kenya National Commission on Human Rights wants Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to order the resumption of the pending exhumation of bodies in Shakahola, Kilifi.
In its report "Mashaka ya Shakahola" the commission further recommended the release of the bodies to their next of kin for burial.
The commission also wants Kindiki to bring to account all security officers and national administration officers whose acts of omission and commission abetted and aided the Shakahola massacre.
"This should include charging them with criminal negligence and individual responsibility," KNCHR said.
It also asked the State to facilitate the survivors to regain their vital documents which were destroyed as a result of the indoctrination and radicalisation.
It named the documents as national identity cards, passports, birth certificates, title deeds, and academic and marriage certificates.
The commission further asked the government to establish a multi-agency/multi-stakeholder de-radicalisation and rehabilitation plan to facilitate the reintegration of the survivors into their homes, families, and communities.
“Urgently invest in rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure across the country in readiness for unforeseen disasters in the future. This particular incident exposed a serious lack of preparedness in regard to rescue and rehabilitation in disaster situations. Suffice to say, the government is relying on the goodwill of well-wishers to assist the Shakahola survivors,” the commission said.
Between April 25, 2023, and October 2023, the government conducted a search and rescue operation while simultaneously exhuming bodies from various mass graves.
At the end of the exercise, a total of 429 bodies were exhumed, and 67 adults and 25 children were rescued.
KNCHR noted that pursuant to its constitutional mandate of promoting and protecting human rights, it embarked on a monitoring exercise from March 2023 to date on the Shakahola tragedy.
It followed the discovery of shallow graves found within Shakahola Forest, part of Chakama Ranch in Kilifi near Malindi.
The commission said its objective in monitoring the tragedy was to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice for the survivors and victims' families.
KNCHR added that it also sought to ensure that the government and all other actors employ a human rights-based approach in all its actions related to uncovering the Shakahola Tragedy.
The commission said it conducted thorough monitoring and investigations, including site visits, prison inspections, engagements with stakeholders, and interviews with victims and survivors, among other crucial strategies.
