The Ministry of Interior has launched a fresh investigation into alleged religious radicalisation activities in Kilifi County, following the discovery of a suspicious compound in the Binzaro area.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, in a statement released Tuesday morning, confirmed that the operation was triggered by a tip-off from concerned locals. Acting on the alert, security and intelligence units mounted a swift raid on a five-acre homestead suspected to be harbouring dangerous religious practices.
What they found was deeply unsettling.
Four adults were rescued from the premises, among them a 50-year-old man who had been reported missing in April at Siaya Police Station. His 40-year-old wife and two other women aged 40 and 19 were also found at the site. Initial assessments suggest that the individuals were subjected to extreme religious indoctrination.
The operation took a grim turn when officers discovered two human skulls and the recently deceased body of an unidentified adult male hidden in a nearby thicket. The remains have since been transferred to Malindi Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for forensic analysis and identification.
Authorities have arrested the main suspect, believed to be the leader of the operation, along with three individuals who allegedly managed the homestead. Additionally, three other people are in custody over questionable land dealings linked to the property, as investigators look into the legality of its sale and ownership.
CS Murkomen said the scope of the investigation has now broadened to include how the property was acquired, how it was being used, and the nature of the teachings taking place within the compound.
“This is an ongoing probe,” the CS stated. “We are determined to get to the bottom of what was happening at that location and ensure all those responsible are held accountable.”
This latest case follows a troubling pattern of radical religious activities previously uncovered in parts of the coastal region, prompting national concern over the need for more robust community policing and vigilance.
