At least forty-seven bodies have so far been found on land owned by a pastor on the Kenyan coast who has been arrested after telling his followers of the International Church of Good News to fast to death to “know Jesus”. . In total there are 51 deaths, since four followers died in the hospital, but it is believed that the number could be higher.
Malindi sub-county police chief John Kemboi said Monday that no other shallow graves have yet been dug on the land belonging to pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested on April 14 for links to the cult, and asked a court that would allow them to hold Makenzi longer while investigations into the deaths of his followers continue.
A complaint led police to raid the pastor’s property in Malindi, where they found 15 emaciated people, including four who later died, bringing the total number of victims to 51 so far. The pastor’s supporters said they They were starving following the pastor’s instructions to meet Jesus and claimed there were dozens of shallow graves scattered around Makenzi’s farm, where excavations began last Friday.
Meanwhile, followers of the cult are still hiding in the forest owned by the pastor and the authorities try to help them. A parishioner was found Sunday by authorities bulging-eyed and refusing to eat.
“She flatly refused to receive first aid and resolutely closed her mouth, refusing to be assisted, wanting to continue her fast until death,” Hussein Khalid, a member of Haki Africa, an organization that alerted the authorities about the group activities.
“We call on the national government to send troops to the ground so that we can enter the forest and rescue these victims who are fasting,†he continued.
Makenzi, after being arrested, went on a hunger strike, which is now in its fourth day. The pastor had already been detained on two other occasions, in 2019 and in March of this year, in connection with the deaths of children. On both occasions, he was released on bail and both cases are still in court.
Home Minister Kithure Kindiki said the entire 800-acre forest had been sealed off and declared a crime scene. “This horrendous plague on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrators of the atrocity of so many innocent souls, but to a stricter regulation (including self-regulation) of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue that goes forward.” said.
Local politicians have urged the court not to release him this time, denouncing the spread of cults in the Malindi area. Cults are common in Kenya, which has a largely religious society.
