The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has explained why the mystery surrounding the Shakahola massacre is yet to be solved.
In a statement, DPP Renson Ingonga noted that the case was complex and that the DNA results of the victims would be delayed because the process requires time and resources.
He also stated that 360 bodies out of the 429 bodies retrieved had severely decomposed making the process even harder.
“Shanzu Court: Unravelling the mystery as to what led to the loss of lives in the Shakahola Massacre is COMPLEX! Why? Conducting DNA on 429 bodies, with 360 bodies severely decomposed requires time and resources!” the statement reads in parts.
Shanzu Court: Unravelling the mystery as to what led to the loss of lives in the Shakahola Massacre is COMPLEX! Why? Conducting DNA on 429 bodies, with 360 bodies severely decomposed requires time and resources!#HakiNaUsawa #ShakaholaMassacre pic.twitter.com/FSqdZ05eVK
— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) December 22, 2023
On Thursday, December 21, 2023, the Shanzu court granted the state’s application to hold the suspects involved in the Shakahola massacre for further days pending investigations.
Rendering the request, Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido granted the state 130 days saying that the court was convinced that detectives required more time to collect evidence.
Omido further stated that the bodies which were severely decomposed made the autopsy exercise costly and time-consuming and that the additional time would serve the intended purpose.
“The upshot is that I will allow their further remand in custody for 130 days which I think will serve the intended purpose,” Omido ruled.
Omido further ordered that the suspects involved in the case be held at Shimo La Tewa GK, Kilifi GK, and Malindi GK Men and Women Remand.
He noted that the suspects will be held for 130 days starting from September 11, 2023, when the application by the state was filed.
