Recent exhumations near Kenya's Shakahola Forest have uncovered nine bodies linked to a cult led by self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, raising fears of ongoing activities and highlighting the deep tragedy of mass deaths among followers.
Kenya's Ongoing Cult Investigation Reveals More Gruesome Discoveries
Kenya's Ongoing Cult Investigation Reveals More Gruesome Discoveries
New evidence emerges as exhumations continue near the Shakahola Forest, heightening the urgency of the ongoing investigation into the starvation cult.
Detectives are intensifying their search in a large area after nine bodies were unearthed from newly-discovered graves that are believed to be associated with a notorious starvation cult in Kenya. This cult has been tied to one of the most harrowing cases of mass deaths resulting from religious extremism, with over 400 bodies previously uncovered in 2023 within the remote Shakahola Forest, located near Malindi. Reports suggest that these individuals were devotees of Paul Mackenzie, a self-styled pastor accused of promoting starvation as a means to reach heaven.
Authorities initiated the latest excavations in July following reports of missing children, prompting a renewed investigation. Eleven individuals have since been arrested, including three who had previously aligned themselves with Mackenzie during what some have termed the "Shakahola Forest Massacre." The recent findings align with concerns publicly voiced by government officials earlier this year, particularly Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, who warned of allegations that Mackenzie might still be in contact with followers from prison, allegedly using a cellphone.
Mackenzie, who was apprehended last year and is currently pleading not guilty to manslaughter, is accused of instructing his followers that starvation would hasten their journey to heaven. A Mombasa court recently postponed his trial due to the emergence of new evidence linked to these disturbing discoveries.
Five bodies were recovered from a site in Kwa Binzaro village close to Shakahola Forest on Thursday, followed by another four on Friday. Government pathologist Richard Njoroge confirmed that the search for additional bodies will persist, emphasizing the vastness of the area. A call has been made to the public for anyone with missing relatives to report to the local Malindi District Hospital for identification through DNA matching.
In a reflection of the dire circumstances that unfolded, Hussein Khalid, a human rights advocate, reported witnessing the exhumations, noting that some remains seemed to have been buried only weeks ago, while others showed signs of being there for an extended period and were in a state of decomposition. Khalid expressed concern regarding signs of possible foul play at one grave, where only pieces of children's and women's clothing were discovered, suggesting that the individuals buried there may have been women and children.
As investigations continue, the chilling discoveries serve as a painful reminder of the consequences of extreme religious beliefs and raise questions about the security and well-being of those manipulated by such ideologies.
