Summary:
- Rising death toll: The Shakahola starvation cult in Kenya, led by Paul Mackenzie, sees a death toll of 90 as homicide detectives continue searching for graves on the cult leader’s property.
- Government response: Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki calls the massacre a turning point for Kenya in addressing security issues caused by religious insurgents and reveals an investigation into another suspected cult in Kilifi County.
- Ongoing investigation: Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, appeared in court with 13 other individuals on April 17, as the prosecution requested more time to complete investigations.
The Shakahola cult massacre, led by Paul Mackenzie, has shaken the Kenyan community as the death toll continues to rise. Homicide detectives have been searching for graves on the 800-acre property belonging to Mackenzie since last week. The cult leader was arrested on April 14 following a tip-off suggesting the presence of shallow graves containing the remains of his followers.
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has referred to the Shakahola cult massacre as a turning point for Kenya in addressing security issues caused by religious insurgents.
Disturbing Discoveries
The Kilifi cult’s death toll reached 90 after seven more bodies were exhumed, including that of a child, in a Shakahola forest on Tuesday afternoon. In total, 17 bodies were exhumed on Tuesday alone.
CS Kindiki denounced the cult’s practices, stating, “This was a misuse of fundamental rights of freedom with the purported use of the Bible to kill and cause a massacre.” He promised that Mackenzie and his collaborators would face justice for their actions.
Investigating Other Cults
The CS revealed that the state is also investigating another suspected cult in Kilifi County that uses religion to deceive Kenyans. “We have cast the net wider to another religious organization here in Kilifi. We have opened a formal inquiry on this religious group, and we are getting crucial leads that perhaps what was being done by Mackenzie is a tip of the iceberg,” Prof Kindiki explained.
Cult’s Deadly Beliefs
On Tuesday morning, police discovered ten more bodies believed to be followers of the Christian cult who thought they would ascend to heaven by starving themselves. The total number of deaths linked to Mackenzie’s cult has now reached 90, including eight victims who died after being rescued during a police raid that exposed the horrors of the Good News International Church.
Police also rescued two severely malnourished women who appeared to be on the verge of death. They were taken to Malindi Hospital for treatment.
Ongoing Investigation
Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, appeared before Malindi Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui on April 17 but was not required to plead to any charge. The prosecution requested 30 more days to hold him while investigations were completed, but the court granted police 14 days. Mackenzie was arraigned alongside 13 other individuals in the case, which will be mentioned on May 2.
