the police of Kenya exhumed dozens of bodies of graves shallow waters in the east of the country in the middle of a investigation about followers of a Christian cult who believed they would go to heaven if they starved.
Information provided by officials brings the number of exhumed bodies to 47, according to media reports on Sunday.
“Today we have exhumed 26 more bodies and this brings the total number of bodies from that location to 47,” said the head of criminal investigations in Malindi, eastern Kenya, Charles Kamau.
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge is already giving statements
Police near the coastal town of Malindi started exhuming bodies on Friday and recovered seven bodies that day. They recovered 14 more bodies on Saturday, Detective Charles Kamau told.
“This horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to pic.twitter.com/6vHzGQpaVG
— Aprajita Choudhary �� (@aprajitanefes)
April 24, 2023
He said the search was continuing not only for the bodies but also for the cult’s survivors, some of whom still refuse to eat.
Police launched their operation after the first bodies were discovered last week, with exhumations of bodies beginning Friday in an 800-acre (325-hectare) area of forest at Shakahola, near Malindi in Kilifi county.
Kenyan Home Minister Kithure Kindiki announced he would visit the site on Tuesday, referring to the shocking discovery as the “Shakahola Forest Massacre” in a tweet on Sunday.
Malindi sub-county police chief John Kemboi said no more shallow graves have yet been dug on land belonging to pastor and cult leader Paul Mackenzie, who was arrested on April 14 for links to the cult.
Police said 15 rescued worshipers had been told to starve themselves so they could meet their creator. Four of them died before reaching the hospital.
47 dead bodies have been discovered in shallow graves by the Police in Malindi, Kenya, after Pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge told his members to starve themselves to death to see Jesus.”
15 other members were rescued by Police officers in the forest last week. pic.twitter.com/K2q9jJlzIY
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone)
April 23, 2023
Mackenzie had been arrested twice before, in 2019 and in March of this year, for the deaths of children. Each time, she was released on bail, and both cases continue in court.
Police last month arrested Mackenzie for encouraging the parents of two children to starve and suffocate their children to death.
During a court appearance in that case, Mackenzie said he was unaware of the events that led to the deaths of the two children, adding that he was the target of hostile propaganda from some of his former colleagues.
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