NAIROBI: Kenyan police have exhumed the dead bodies of 47 individuals believed to be followers of a Christian cult who died after starving themselves to death in the Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi.
The exhumations began on Friday and were still ongoing, according to detective Charles Kamau.
Earlier this month, police rescued 15 members of the Good News International Church, a cult led by Paul Mackenzie, who had allegedly instructed his followers to starve themselves to death. Four of the church members died before reaching the hospital.
Following a tip-off, Mackenzie was arrested, and local media reports citing police sources indicate that he has refused to eat or drink while in police custody.
Kenyan minister declares entire forest as crime scene
Kenyan Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki has declared the entire 800-acre forest as a crime scene and called for tighter regulation, including self-regulation, of all religious institutions in the country.
He described the incident as a “horrendous blight on our conscience” and emphasized the need for severe punishment for the perpetrators of the atrocity.
The case has shed light on the issue of cults and their practices in Kenya, prompting calls for increased scrutiny and regulation of religious organizations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The investigation into the deaths and the activities of the Good News International Church is ongoing, as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the tragedy and hold those responsible accountable.
