Kenya’s Criminal Investigation Department made over the week-end yet another gruesome discovery when over 45 corpses were uncovered across the south eastern County of Kilifi.
Most of the mortal remains found so far, were on a land owned by a self-proclaimed pastor who was arrested for allegedly telling his followers to fast to death.
A follower was rescued Sunday (Apr. 23) as she would not end her fast.
“This clearly shows that there are many who are still in there, who are continuing with this fast and possibly dying, every second that passes by,” the director of rights group Haki Africa warned.
Hussein Khalid added: “It is why we are appealing to the national government to send boots on the ground.”
Paul Makenzi of the Good News International Church has been detained for over a week. According to the Kenya news agency, six of his followers are also detained.
Makenzi’s case will be mentioned in court on May 2nd.
The pastor has been arrested twice before, in 2019 and in March of this year, in relation to the deaths of children. Each time, he was released on bond, and both cases are still proceeding through the court.
Local politicians have urged the court not to release him this time, decrying the spread of cults in the Malindi area.
How did the discoveries start?
A tipoff from members of the public led police to raid the pastor’s property in Malindi, where they had found 15 emaciated people, including the four who later died. The followers said they were starving on the pastor’s instructions in order “to meet Jesus.”
Police had been told there were dozens of shallow graves spread across Makenzi’s farm and digging started on Friday (Apr. 21).
Hussein Khalid urged for psychosocial counselling for members of the cult.
“These are victims, these are not criminals. We need psychosocial counselling so that they can be deradicalised and understand what is happening,” says.
The child protection officer in Malindi sub county, Kilifi county was horrified: “The childhood belongs to the family and the community. And here when they were coming out, they were tied with ropes and forced to fast for up to, until they pass on.”
“That is a big blow and a big shock to our country. What cruelty if not this one,” Sebastian Muteti concluded.