AFRICA ( Commonwealth Union) _ Numerous bodies have been found as a result of an ongoing inquiry into a rumoured religious cult in southeast Kenya, whose members were supposedly instructed to starve themselves. As more bones were excavated from mass graves in an 800-acre forest in the village of Shakahola, close to the seaside town of Malindi, the death toll rose to 90 on Tuesday.
Kenyan Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, who was present at the location on Tuesday, stated during a press conference that this is as of now. We have no idea how many more graves or remains we will likely find as the procedure proceeds throughout the remainder of the day.
According to a press release from the Kenya Red Cross Society, more than 200 persons have been reported missing in the region as a result of the shocking discoveries. While some of the dead were discovered alive but later died, the majority of the corpses were recovered from shallow graves. 34 more people who were rescued from the premises are still alive, according to Kindiki.
All of the victims are thought to be adherents of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and the Good News International Church, which he claims to lead. The land’s owner, Mackenzie, is charged with enticing his adherents there and telling them to observe fasting till death in order to meet their maker, according to a statement from Kenya’s Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome. After authorities searched his property on April 14, Mackenzie turned himself in, according to Koome. He is still being held.
A criminal record for Mackenzie dates back to 2017. According to Koome, he was detained last month in relation to the hunger deaths of two children but was later freed on a 10,000 Kenyan shilling ($75) bail. According to a news release from Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which called the sight in Shakahola shocking to the human conscience, a preliminary investigation indicated that Mackenzie and other prospective suspects may be charged with murder and terrorism.
In the meantime, the interior ministry made a possible genocide accusation against Mackenzie. In the same county, he claimed, investigators are also looking into another potential cult. On Tuesday, Kindiki informed reporters, We have expanded our search to another religious group here in Kilifi. We have launched a formal investigation into this religious organization, and we are receiving significant leads that suggest what Mackenzie did might only be the tip of the iceberg.
