Kenyan authorities say the death toll from fasting to “meet Jesus” has risen to 303 after 19 bodies were discovered in the Shakahola forest near the town of Malindi.
Kenya Coastal Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed on June 13 that the death toll in the incident involving a Kenyan religious sect practicing fasting to "meet Jesus" had surpassed 300 after 19 new bodies were found that day.
According to a TTXVN correspondent in Africa, Mr. Onyancha confirmed: "The death toll has now risen to 303 after 19 bodies were exhumed."
Kenyan police believe that most of the bodies found in the Shakahola forest near the Indian Ocean town of Malindi belong to followers of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie – a taxi driver turned preacher – who has been in police custody since April 14.
He will face charges of "terrorism" in a case that has rocked the East African nation.
The 50-year-old founder of Good News International turned himself in on April 14.
According to pathologist Johansen Oduor, while starvation appears to be the primary cause of death, some victims—including children—were strangled, beaten, or suffocated.
Questions have been raised about how Mackenzie managed to evade law enforcement despite her history of involvement with extremism and previous convictions.
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge was arrested in 2017 on charges of "radicalization" for advocating for underprivileged children, arguing that education is not recognized in the Bible.
The horrific story shocked the Kenyan people and prompted President William Ruto to order the formation of a commission to investigate the deaths and a task force to assess the regulatory system governing religious organizations in the East African nation.
The "Shakahol massacre" has revived the debate about controlling religious activities in Kenya, a predominantly Christian country where "pastors," "churches," and other religious movements are at the forefront of discussions.
Previous attempts to regulate religious activities have met with strong opposition, particularly in the name of the separation of church and state.
Another pastor accused of having ties to Mackenzie and the bodies found in the woods has been released on bail. Ezekiel Odero, a prominent and wealthy preacher, is under investigation for a range of charges including murder, aiding suicide, kidnapping, radicalization, crimes against humanity, cruelty to children, fraud, and money laundering.
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