By John Ikani
Kenya’s police announced on Monday that they had discovered 58 bodies from mass graves located in the Shakahola forest in the country’s eastern region.
According to authorities, the deceased were members of a Christian cult that believed that starving themselves would grant them a spot in heaven.
The death toll has been steadily increasing since exhumations began two days ago, and the Kenyan Red Cross has reported that 112 people have been reported missing.
The cult, known as the Good News International Church, was led by Paul Mackenzie. After a tip-off, authorities arrested Mackenzie, and police exhumed at least 31 bodies of his followers.
The Shakahola forest, near the coastal town of Malindi, has become a crime scene, and the entire 800-acre area has been sealed off.
Earlier this month, authorities rescued 15 church worshippers from the group who were told to starve themselves to death.
Sadly, four members died before reaching the hospital. Reports suggest that Mackenzie has refused to eat or drink while in police custody.
Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki condemned the incident and called for tighter regulation, including self-regulation of every church, mosque, temple, or synagogue going forward, stating that “This horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrator(s) of the atrocity on so many innocent souls.”
