Shakahola massacre: Gov't extends search, rescue of survivors to Tsavo National Park

The Government on Saturday, May 20 made it clear that only the search for graves and exhumation of the victims of the Shakahola Massacre had been suspended.

In a circular sent to newsrooms, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki said the decision had been taken to allow for logistical arrangements for the postmortem examination of the additional 123 bodies recovered in Phase 2 of the exhumation exercise. 

"Phase 2 postmortems will commence on Wednesday 24th May 2023 at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital," CS Kindiki's circular read in part.

Meanwhile, the search for and rescue of survivors within Shakahola Forest and the larger Chakama Ranch will continue uninterrupted and will be extended into the edges of the neighbouring Tsavo East National Park in the coming days using ground and drone search.

"Grave search and exhumation shall resume on conclusion of the Phase 2 postmorterm exercise," CS Kindiki added.

The death toll from the Shakahola Massacre currently stands at 235.