Following the unearthing of fresh graves in Kenya's Shakahola Forest, the search for victims of Paul Mackenzie’s starvation cult continues, raising fears that the cult remains active and may have further victims.
Disturbing Discovery: New Bodies Linked to Kenya's Starvation Cult Exhumed
Disturbing Discovery: New Bodies Linked to Kenya's Starvation Cult Exhumed
Investigators uncover nine additional bodies near Shakahola Forest, intensifying the probe into the notorious starvation cult led by Paul Mackenzie.
In a chilling continuation of the ongoing investigation into Kenya’s notorious starvation cult, nine bodies have been exhumed from fresh graves, heightening concerns over the possibility that the cult, led by self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, is still operational. The chilling discoveries come in the wake of a mass death tragedy that claimed more than 400 lives in 2023 at the remote Shakahola Forest, located inland from Malindi.
Authorities took action in July to order these exhumations after reports surfaced regarding the disappearance of several children in the area. So far, 11 individuals have been arrested in relation to the investigation, including three former followers of Mackenzie during the events of the "Shakahola Forest Massacre." Concerns are growing after Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen claimed in April that Mackenzie was allegedly using a mobile phone to contact his followers from jail.
Charged with manslaughter, Mackenzie allegedly preached that his followers would attain salvation more swiftly through fasting. His trial, postponed recently due to new evidence emerging, underscores the gravity of the situation.
The exhumation site, located in Kwa Binzaro village, yielded five bodies on Thursday and an additional four the following day. Richard Njoroge, a government pathologist, indicated that the search for more victims is ongoing due to the vastness of the area. Community members are urged to report to the Malindi District Hospital if they suspect their loved ones might be among the missing.
Human rights activist Hussein Khalid, who observed the exhumations, highlighted that one body was recently buried, while others were found in a stage of decomposition. Khalid revealed that evidence at one grave suggested foul play, with only fragments of clothing—believed to belong to women and children—remaining.
As searches for additional burial sites are set to resume, the grim reality of this disaster underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring extremist ideologies that contribute to tragic outcomes.
