In the area named Kwa Binzaro: It was the children who suffered the most from the impacts of the cult

Multiple victims, primarily women and children, perished due to a suspected doomsday cult's mandate for fasting until death, supposedly as a means to attain heaven. Similar to the Shakahola cult, the sequence of deaths involved children passing away initially, followed by women.

, and Administrator

2025 September 13 . 2:43 PM

2 min read

Underneath the Cult's Shadow: Children Suffer the Most

In the area named Kwa Binzaro: It was the children who suffered the most from the impacts of the cult

In a shocking turn of events, the Kwa Binzaro cult, operating in plain sight, has been uncovered, leaving behind a trail of devastation and loss. The cult, two hours' drive from Malindi, was discovered in mid-July, and since then, investigations have been underway to unravel the mystery surrounding its operations.

The crime scene, a five-acre homestead, has revealed a chilling truth. Bodies of mothers and children, found naked, suggest potential cruelty in their deaths. Eleven people, including Jairus Otieno Odere, Lilian Akinyi, and Safari Kenga Nzai, have been named as key suspects under investigation for alleged involvement in organised crime, radicalisation, aiding terrorism, and murder.

The cult's instructor, Joseph Mboto, tasked the followers with preparing for the end of the world. Children were reportedly ordered to fast in the sun to die faster, and infants were found in graves with their mothers facing the opposite direction. A baby's potty chair and some baby clothes were found at the homestead, a stark reminder of the innocence lost.

The cult believed that starvation was their ticket to salvation. Detectives are now tracing the money trail, as funds were used to bankroll radicalisation and transport victims to the forest. Documents tabled before the Malindi law court indicate that the suspects in custody channelled money to facilitate their operations, including renting houses in Malindi where followers were offered temporary shelter and radicalised before being ferried to Kwa Binzaro.

The Kwa Binzaro crime scene has raised questions about who was funding the operation. The houses at the homestead were made of mud and iron sheets, hinting at a substantial financial backing. Rhoda Onyancha, the Coast Region Commissioner, has urged families and the community to accept and embrace members of the cult who were rescued.

In a heartbreaking development, pregnant women have been exhumed at the site, and a foetus's ribs were found with those of an adult in one grave. These discoveries call for the government to give this matter the importance it deserves. Victor Kaudo of the Malindi Community Human Rights Centre has asked the government to declare the Kwa Binzaro deaths a national disaster.

Rhoda Onyancha has revealed that some arrests have been made in Magarini in connection to the cult. As the investigation continues, the hope is that justice will be served, and the victims' families will find closure. The total number of bodies recovered at the Kwa Binzaro cult site stands at 32, a grim testament to the tragedy that unfolded. The deaths of dozens of women and children at the hands of the Kwa Binzaro cult serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the fight against radicalisation and organised crime.