The number of bodies dug up by police in a forest near the Kenyan coastal city of Malindi has risen to 47. The bodies belong to followers of the Good News International Church who starved themselves to death. The group’s spiritual leader, Pastor Paul Mackenzie, has already been arrested.
“Today we have exhumed another 26 corpses, which brings the total number of bodies found to 47,” said Charles Kamau, the detective in charge of the case, quoted by the Polish Press Agency. The remains found in shallow forest graves belong to the followers of the Good News International Church. Some of them are children, according to the BBC.
The spiritual leader of the group is Pastor Paul Mackenzie. He was to persuade his supporters to starve themselves, which – in his opinion – was to enable them to “meet Jesus”.
The number of corpses found in Malindi is growing, they belong to the cult’s followers
The first seven bodies were found on Friday, April 21. The next day, 14 more were found. The entire area of the forest, over eight hectares, was cordoned off and declared a crime scene. Officers say they are still combing the area and the number of bodies they find may increase. As PAP emphasizes, the activities of the policemen also include the search for living followers of the sect. In early April, after receiving a notification from the defense organization human rights Haki Africa, the services raided the pastor’s property. They found there 15 starved people. Four of the cult’s followers died before they could be taken to the hospital.
Kenyan police found more bodies of cult followersReuters
Pastor Mackenzie, the leader of the group, has been arrested twice in the past. Each time, however, he was released on bail. He was first captured in 2019. The second time, along with six other cult members, in March this year. His most recent arrest was on April 15. He is currently in custody awaiting trial. According to PAP reports, he refuses to eat and drink.
“This terrible stain on our conscience must lead not only to the harshest punishment for the perpetrator of cruelty to so many innocent souls, but also to stricter regulation of the operation of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue in the future,” he assessed in a tweet published on April 23. , Minister of the Interior Kenya Kithure Kindiki.
Main photo source: Reuters