Africa

Kenya cult investigation: 39 bodies found in graves

Four more died after they were found starving at the Good News International Church

Littered cloths in the forest were bodies have been exhumed in Shakahola, outside the coastal Kenyan town of Malindi. Photograph: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

Mon Apr 24 2023 - 09:19

Thirty-nine bodies have been found on land owned by a pastor in coastal Kenya who was arrested for telling his followers to fast to death.

Malindi sub-county police chief John Kemboi said more shallow graves had yet to be dug up on the land belonging to pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested on April 14th over links to cultism.

The total death toll is 43 because a further four people died after they and others were discovered starving at the Good News International Church last week.

Police have asked a court to allow them to hold Mr Makenzi for longer as investigations into the deaths of his followers continue.

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A tip-off from members of the public led police to raid the pastor’s property in Malindi, where they found 15 emaciated people, including the four who later died.

The followers said they were starving on the pastor’s instructions in order to meet Jesus.

Police had been told there were dozens of shallow graves spread across Mr Makenzi’s farm and began digging on Friday.

Mr Makenzi has been on hunger strike for the past four days while in police custody.

The pastor has been arrested twice before, in 2019 and in March of this year, in relation to the deaths of children. Each time, he was released on bond, and both cases are still proceeding through the court.

Local politicians have urged the court not to release him this time, decrying the spread of cults in the Malindi area. – AP

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