Several faithful are said to have died after fasting to “meet Jesus” under the influence of the leader of this sect.
Twenty-one bodies have been exhumed in eastern Kenya since Friday as part of an investigation into the deaths of followers of a cult whose leader allegedly told them to fast to ‘meet Jesus’, officials said on Saturday. two police sources.
Since Friday, “in total, we have 21 bodies” in the Shakahola forest (east), said a police source who requested anonymity. “We have barely touched the surface (of the earth), which clearly indicates that we will have more bodies” at the end of the research, he continued.
Worshipers hospitalized
The toll was confirmed by another police source, who also requested anonymity. One of the two police sources mentioned the presence of at least three children among the victims.
The remains of four followers of the Good News International Church led by Makenzie Nthenge had already been found last week by the authorities.
Investigators searched the area due to reports of a possible mass grave. Eleven other devotees, seven men and four women aged 17 to 49, were hospitalized last week after being rescued from Shakahola Forest.
The leader of the sect already arrested
The leader of the sect, Makenzie Nthenge, surrendered to the police on April 15, before being taken into custody. A police source claimed that Makenzie Nthenge had gone on a hunger strike and was “praying and fasting” in detention.
According to local media, six devotees of Makenzie Nthenge were also arrested. The case is due to go to court on May 2.
In a report, police said they had received reports of people “starving to death under the guise of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, pastor of the International Church of Good News”.
According to local media, Makenzie Nthenge was arrested and charged last month after two children died of starvation in the care of their parents. He was then released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings (about 670 euros).
