16 more bodies found linked to fasting cult

Authorities fear more bodies may be found in Shakahola Forest, where cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge allegedly told his followers that starvation was the only way to heaven.

Kenyan police search around the scene. Photo: AP

Children are the latest victims of the "Shakahola Forest Massacre".

The grim discovery has shocked the nation and President William Ruto has pledged to crack down on “extremist” religious movements as the horrifying details emerge.

Visiting the scene on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Kithure Kindiki warned that worse could still happen.

“We don’t know how many more graves, how many more bodies we can continue to uncover,” he told reporters, adding that the crimes were serious enough to warrant terrorism charges against the sect leader.

A total of 34 people have been found alive in the vast forest, he said. “The majority of the bodies recovered are children,” a forensic investigator said.

As deaths mount, authorities at the state-run Malindi County Hospital have warned that the morgue is running out of space to hold bodies and is already at capacity.

“The hospital morgue has a capacity of 40 bodies,” said hospital manager Said Ali, adding that officials had contacted the Kenya Red Cross to request refrigerated containers.

The Kenyan government believes some members of the Good News International Church may still be hiding around Shakahola Forest and are at risk of death if not found quickly.

Hussein Khalid, executive director of the human rights group Haki Africa, has called on the government to send more rescuers to search the 325-hectare forest for survivors.

“With each passing day, there is a very high possibility of more deaths, adding that 50 to 60 percent of the victims are children,” he said. “The horror we have witnessed over the past four days is heartbreaking. There is nothing more horrifying than the mass graves of children.”

Investigators said they found bodies stuffed into shallow pits, with up to six people inside one grave, while some bodies were left on the ground.

As the investigation unfolded, questions emerged about how the cult was able to operate undetected despite Nthenge coming to police attention six years ago.

The preacher was arrested in 2017 on charges of “radicalization” after urging families to keep their children out of school. Nthenge was arrested again last month. Nthenge is due to appear in court on May 2.

Quoc Thien (according to AP, SCMP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/them-16-thi-the-duoc-tim-thay-lien-quan-toi-giao-phai-nhin-an-o-kenya-post245242.html