Kenyan authorities say the death toll from fasting to “meet Jesus” has now risen to 303 after 19 bodies were discovered in Shakahola Forest near the town of Malindi.
The death toll from a Kenyan sect that fasted to “meet Jesus” has surpassed 300 after 19 new bodies were found on the same day, Kenya Coastal Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed on June 13.
The Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Africa quoted Mr. Onyancha as saying: "The death toll has now increased to 303 after 19 bodies were exhumed."
Kenyan police believe most of the bodies found in the Shakahola forest near the town of Malindi on the Indian Ocean belong to followers of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a taxi driver turned preacher who has been in police custody since April 14.
He is set to face “terrorism” charges in a case that has rocked the East African nation.
The 50-year-old founder of Good News International Church surrendered on April 14.
While starvation appeared to be the main cause of death, some of the victims - including children - had been strangled, beaten or suffocated, according to pathologist Johansen Oduor.
Questions have been raised about how Mackenzie managed to evade law enforcement despite his history of involvement in extremism and previous convictions.
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge was arrested in 2017 on charges of "radicalization" for advocating for children to be kept out of school, arguing that education is not recognized in the Bible.
The horrific story has stunned Kenyans and prompted President William Ruto to order the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the deaths and a task force to review the regulatory system governing religious institutions in the East African nation.
The "Shakahola massacre" has revived the debate over the control of religious practices in Kenya, a predominantly Christian country where "pastors," "churches" and other religious movements have become top topics.
Previous attempts to regulate religious activity have met with strong opposition, especially in the name of separation of church and state.
Another pastor accused of having links to Mackenzie and the bodies found in the woods has been granted bail. Ezekiel Odero, a prominent and wealthy evangelist, is being investigated for a range of charges including murder, assisted suicide, kidnapping, radicalization, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering./.
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