Police in Kenya have recovered 73 bodies from mass graves believed to be members of a Christian cult. Reports say the people found thought they’d go to heaven for starving themselves to death. The mass death follows the second arrest of the alleged cult leader earlier this month.
RELATED: Kenyan Olympic Long-Distance Runner Agnes Tirop Stabbed To Death At 25—Her Husband Is Named As A Suspect
The death toll could increase further, as the Kenyan Red Cross said 112 people in the area had been reported missing, per Reuters. However, Charles Kamau, the head detective in Malindi, Kilifi County, told Reuters seventy-three is where the death toll stands as of Monday.
Kenyan Cult Leader Promised Followers They Would “Meet Jesus” If They Stopped Eating
Local police first arrested Makenzie Nthenge, the cult’s leader, which Reuters also named Paul Mackenzie, in 2017.
In March 2023, he was arraigned for “the alleged death of two children who are believed to be starved,” per the Directorate of Criminal Investigations-Kenya.
Officials released Makenzie on an SH10,000 cash bail, but police arrested him again on April 14. Police began sweeping the area after receiving a tip-off from the public about a series of shallow graves that reportedly contained the bodies of at least 31 Good News International Church followers.
to a cult have been recovered since the operation began last week. Following the discovery, a full scale probe into the deaths linked to the movement, the Good News International Church was immediately launched leading to the arrest of the sect’s leader Makenzie Nthenge,
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) April 24, 2023
Detective Kamau said three others were recently arrested concerning the case, but no further details were provided.
Meanwhile, Reuters says local news channel NTV reported the police arrested one of the people on suspicions of being closely associated with Makenzie.
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
Eight Survivors Later Died From Starvation
Hours before Reuters reported, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations-Kenya had confirmed the death toll as 58 on Monday. The DCI also added that 33 people had been rescued thus far.
morning. Luckily, 33 people have until now been rescued since the operation began. Mr Koome, who was accompanied by the Director of Criminal Investigations Mr Mohamed Amin, said that a comprehensive probe bringing together forensic experts from the DCI, the government pathologist
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) April 24, 2023
” In a briefing to the IGP, the Director of Homicide at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Mr. Martin Nyuguto said that he believed that there were more bodies buried in shallow graves scattered across the 800-acre forest which has since been sealed off as a crime scene. Mr Nyuguto added that his team had identified other sites where more bodies are believed to have been buried and they were conducting the exhumation exercise systematically…,” the DCI tweeted.
Most people were found in mass graves, alongside eight survivors initially found alive and suffering from starvation. While visiting the crime scene on Monday, the country’s police chief Japhet Koome revealed the survivors later died.
Koome added 14 other cult members were in police custody.
21 church goers die after pastor asked them not to eat till they meet Jesus
…………………………………………………………
At least 21 bodies thought to be members of a starvation death cult have been dug up in Kenya. pic.twitter.com/cyEbWPeNrx
— Standard Observers (@Standardobserve) April 23, 2023
Cult Leader In Jail As Police Investigate, Reportedly Refusing Food And Water
The cult leader was arraigned a day after his arrest on April 14. A judge reportedly allowed authorities 14 days to conduct their investigation as Makenzie Nthenge remains incarcerated.
According to local Kenyan news outlets, he has reportedly refused food and water since his detention.
When asked about Nthenge, Kenyan President William Ruto called him a “terrible criminal” posing as a pastor.
“Mr. Mackenzie … pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal,” said Ruto.
President Ruto said he has requested that any relevant agencies investigate how such a tragedy could occur. Additionally, the president wants to stop “people who want to use religion to advance weird, unacceptable ideology in the Republic of Kenya that is causing unnecessary loss of life.”
MALINDI CULT DEATHS: IGP JAPHET KOOME ASSURES ACTION AGAINST PERPETRATORS AS DEATH TOLL HITS 58
The Inspector General of the National Police Service Mr Japhet Koome, has this morning led a security delegation to Shakahola forest in Malindi, Kilifi County, at the site where pic.twitter.com/lqTn1YF6Bu
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) April 24, 2023
Reuters reports that they were unable to reach Mackenzie’s lawyers or representatives.
