The third phase of the exhumation exercise in the vast Shakahola forest, Kilifi County kicked off Monday.
According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the multi-agency security team on the ground supported by aerial surveillance has already identified about 22 mass graves that may contain multiple bodies.
The exercise resumes after a two-week break meant to allow pathologists to conduct post-mortem examinations on the 129 bodies that were exhumed in the second phase of the activity.
CS Kindiki speaking at a church service in Kirinyaga County on Sunday also announced that a task force established by the President to talk to the church and all stakeholders to come up with regulations on the registration of churches will begin its sitting today.
“From tomorrow, the task force established by the President to talk to the church and all stakeholders to come up with regulations on registration of churches will begin its sittings. I urge you all to turn up and give your views…'” CS Kindiki said.
CS Kindiki further urged Kenyans to turn up and give views, issuing stern warnings to anybody who will stage violent protests.
The CS assured Kenyans that the government will do whatever it can to bring rogue preachers to book and that such kind of incident that occurred at Shakahola will not happen again.
The task force is mandated to identify gaps and recommend legal and governance changes to prevent religious extremism, inform the standards used to grant certificates to various religious institutions in the country, and engage the public in various forums before submitting the report that will be adopted to guide the operation of religious institutions in the country.
Meanwhile, the court on Friday directed that the Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 16 other suspects remain in police custody until Wednesday to allow the hearing of an application seeking a further 60-day detention.
The controversial preacher is accused of terrorism, murder, kidnapping, and cruelty towards children.