Death toll in Kenyan ‘starvation cult’ nears 100

More bodies, including those of children, have been found in shallow graves in Shakahola forest of Kilifi County, Kenya after a religious leader asked his followers to starve to “meet Jesus”.

As of Monday, Kenyan police put the death toll at 73. The number of casualties has now hit 98.

Rhoda Onyancha, coast regional coordinator, said eight more bodies of children were exhumed on Wednesday near cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge’s home in the forest.

Followers of the church were reported to be living in several secluded settlements in an 800-acre area reportedly owned by the cult leader within the Shakahola forest.

Police said the investigation had so far indicated that Nthenge’s victims were subjected to extreme religious beliefs, characterized by fasting and starvation to death, as their unorthodox means to meet their maker.

Kithure Kindiki, interior cabinet secretary, said it appeared that what happened at Nthenge’s church was “the tip of the iceberg”.

He said the investigation was ongoing and assured that everyone connected to the case would face justice.

“The government admits this should not have happened. We have opened a formal inquiry on another religious organisation based in Kilifi County,” Kindiki said.

“We are getting leads that perhaps what was being done at Mackenzie’s was just the tip of the iceberg. The net has been cast wider to all other associates and collaborators of Mackenzie’s evil.”