The number of children feared to have died in the ongoing Binzaro cult investigations in Kilifi County has increased to eight, as detectives intensify their probe into mysterious disappearances and deaths linked to a homestead in Chakama.

Authorities have now confirmed the identity of a man whose body was discovered at the homestead, linking him to a case reported earlier in Busia County.

Paul Otieno, speaking to the press, identified the deceased as his brother, Samwel Owino Okello Owuoyo, originally from Ndhiwa in Homa Bay County but residing in Busia with his family.

Otieno revealed that Samwel vanished with his two sons during the recent school mid-term break, leaving behind his two daughters.

“He disappeared from home with his two sons and left behind two daughters. He lied to his wife that he was going to work in Ndhiwa,” said Otieno.

In a related case, a couple and their six children, who had also been reported missing in Siaya County, were traced to the same homestead.

The couple was rescued and the six children are now feared dead. Police have since linked the location to multiple cases of disappearances involving families from different counties.

Otieno added that he travelled to Malindi last week to identify his brother’s body after his sister-in-law was informed of the death. “I went and confirmed that it was him. We want to know how he landed in Malindi because everything is a mystery to me,” he said.

Authorities are now planning an exhumation exercise to determine if more victims were buried at the site.

A Malindi court on Monday granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) permission to conduct the exhumations.

The court order is time-bound, prompting urgent preparations by investigators.

Kilifi County Criminal Investigation Officer Robert Kiinge said a specialised team is being assembled for the exercise.

“The exercise requires a set of different people, and we might take about two weeks to plan ourselves. Our court order has an expiry date, and so we want to ensure we begin work before the deadline,” he explained.

Over the weekend, forensic teams marked four suspected shallow graves within the homestead. Kiinge noted that the number of victims might rise, and appealed to locals to report any areas that appear suspicious. “We suspect eight bodies may have been buried there,” he said.

Meanwhile, four people who were earlier rescued from the site and admitted to Malindi Sub-County Hospital have now been discharged and are in police custody.