Kenyan Cult Death Toll Tops 400 in Shocking Starvation Massacre
The grim death toll linked to a Kenyan cult that forced starvation as a twisted route to “meet Jesus Christ” has soared past 400. Officials uncovered 12 more bodies on Monday, pushing the total to a staggering 403.
Rhoda Onyancha, Coast Regional Commissioner, confirmed the figure after fresh exhumations in the Shakahola forest. She revealed cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie urged his followers to starve themselves to death in the remote woods.
Starvation, Strangulation: Horrific Cause of Deaths
Government autopsies show starvation was the main killer, but some victims, including children, bore marks of strangulation, beating, and suffocation. The chilling scene emerged after the first victims were found on April 13 — some already dead, others dangerously weak and emaciated.
Cult Leader Mackenzie Held, Faces Terrorism and Genocide Charges
Mackenzie, a former taxi driver turned preacher, has been locked up since mid-April. On July 3, a Mombasa court extended his detention by another month as investigations continue. Prosecutors warn he could face terrorism or genocide charges, though he has yet to enter a plea.
The pastor, father of seven and founder of the Good News International Church in 2003, is under fire for flouting the law despite a checkered past of extremism and legal troubles. He previously discouraged children from schooling, claiming education contradicted the Bible, and was arrested in 2017 for it.
Government Promises Crackdown on Rogue Churches
Kenya boasts over 4,000 registered churches across a population of 50 million. President William Ruto has urged tighter regulation of religious groups to stop dangerous cults like Mackenzie’s from spreading harm.
Following the grisly discovery of mass graves near Malindi, Mackenzie, his wife, and 16 others were arrested. The 16 men are accused of running an armed “enforcer gang” ensuring no one broke the deadly fast or escaped the forest alive. They remain behind bars.
Mackenzie’s wife was detained for 62 days but recently freed on a 100,000 Kenyan shillings (£600) bond.
Survivors Charged, Human Rights Groups Cry Foul
Meanwhile, 65 cult survivors rescued from the forest were charged with attempted suicide for refusing to eat. This sparked outrage from rights groups, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, which called the charges “inappropriate” and traumatising for victims needing care and compassion.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki slammed police and judiciary failures to act sooner. Testifying before a senate committee, he blamed authorities for not holding Mackenzie after earlier reports and called the Shakahola massacre the worst security breach in Kenya’s history.
Kindiki vowed to “relentlessly push for legal reforms to tame rogue preachers” and prevent future tragedies.
