Shakahola Forest Massacre: 73 Dead In Kenyan Cult-led Starvation

Summary:

• Shakahola Forest Tragedy: 73 dead bodies discovered in Kenya’s Shakahola forest due to mass starvation caused by a cult led by pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge.
• Investigation and Arrest: Kenyan authorities have arrested Nthenge and launched a wide-ranging investigation into the Good News International Church, which he founded in 2003.
• Government Response: President William Ruto and Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki address the need for tighter religious regulation in Kenya to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

In a shocking revelation, 73 dead bodies were discovered in the Shakahola forest in Malindi, Kenya, leading to an investigation into a mass starvation event linked to a cult. The Good News International Church and its leader, Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, are now under intense scrutiny, with calls for tighter regulation on religious organizations.

Discovery of the Dead Bodies

On April 21, 2023, police launched an investigation in a 325-hectare area of the Shakahola forest. Dubbed the “Shakahola Forest Massacre,” the area has been sealed and declared a crime scene. Piles of fresh earth topped with crucifixes await the attention of forensic experts.

Shakahola Forest Massacre

The Shakahola forest, located not far from Kenya’s coast, has become the site of a national tragedy. Dozens of people willingly starved themselves to death, believing that their salvation lay in such an extreme act.

Good News International Church

The investigation encompasses the Good News International Church and its notorious leader. The church, founded in 2003, aimed to “nurture the faithful holistically in all matters of Christian spirituality as we prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ through teaching and evangelism.” It attracted more than 3,000 devotees with branches in Nairobi and along Kenya’s coast.

Paul Mackenzie Nthenge

Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, a taxi driver turned pastor, allegedly preached that starvation brought salvation. He reportedly converted people to his beliefs and engaged them in fasting, ultimately encouraging them to starve themselves so they could meet Jesus. Nthenge purchased a field in the Shakahola forest in 2022, where he relocated.

Police Raid and Arrest

Kenyan police raided the Good News International Church two weeks ago, following tips from locals and human rights activists about missing persons in the Malindi area. Upon arrival, they found emaciated people who could not walk or talk. Eight of these individuals later died.

Kenya’s Religious Landscape

Kenya is a profoundly religious country, with 85% of the population identifying as Christian. President William Ruto, the country’s first evangelical Christian president, has nominated several pastors into parliament and government agencies like the anticorruption commission.

President William Ruto’s Response

President Ruto denounced the actions of Pastor Nthenge and called for tighter regulation of religious organizations to prevent similar atrocities from occurring. He compared the use of religion by terrorists to advance their heinous acts to the manipulation of religion by Nthenge.

Call for Tighter Regulation

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, called for stricter regulations on religious organizations to prevent further tragedies. He emphasized the importance of not only punishing those responsible but also implementing tighter regulations to protect innocent people from unscrupulous religious leaders.

Initial Discovery and Rescue

In early April 2023, a husband contacted police after his wife and daughter left Nairobi to join Mackenzie’s remote commune in Kilifi County but did not return. When police entered the community to investigate, they discovered emaciated people and shallow graves. Fifteen members of the group were rescued by police; they stated that they had been ordered to starve themselves to death to “meet Jesus.” The 15 followers were in poor condition; four died before they reached a hospital.

Ongoing Search Efforts

Over the following three weeks, police searched the 800-acre commune, finding more shallow graves and additional survivors who were starving to death. Authorities believed that an unknown number of missing people were still hiding in the forest on the commune and evading authorities while continuing to fast. Members of the commune were actively trying to hinder police efforts to find survivors.

Number of Deaths and Missing Persons

As of April 24, 2023, 73 deaths have been reported, including eight who were rescued but later died. The Kenyan Red Cross reported on April 24 that 112 individuals are missing. As of April 24, 33 emaciated survivors have been rescued.

Arrests and Detentions

Mackenzie and three other leaders of the cult were arrested by authorities and are being held in police custody. Nthenge is due in court on May 2. He had been arrested twice before, in 2019 and March of this year, in relation to the deaths of children. Each time, he was released on bond, and both cases are still proceeding through the court. Local politicians have urged the court not to release him this time, decrying the spread of cults in the Malindi area.

Conclusion

The horrifying discovery of 73 dead bodies in the Shakahola forest has shaken the nation and exposed the dangers of unregulated religious organizations. As investigations continue and survivors are rescued, the need for tighter regulations and greater vigilance in monitoring religious organizations becomes increasingly clear.

FAQs

1. What happened in the Shakahola forest? 73 dead bodies were discovered in the Shakahola forest in Malindi, Kenya, in connection with a mass starvation event led by a cult leader.
2. Who is Paul Mackenzie Nthenge? Paul Mackenzie Nthenge is the leader of the Good News International Church and the alleged mastermind behind the mass starvation event. He is currently in police custody.
3. What is the current status of the investigation? Police are still searching the 800-acre commune, looking for more survivors and missing persons. As of April 24, 2023, 33 emaciated survivors have been rescued.
4. How is the Kenyan government responding to the incident? President William Ruto and Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki have called for tighter regulations on religious organizations to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
5. What is the fate of the cult leader and other cult members? Mackenzie and three other cult leaders have been arrested and are being held in police custody. Nthenge is due in court on May 2.