The discovery of 73 bodies of people who died of starvation near the Kenyan coastal town of Malindi has caused a stir in Kenya.
The death toll in a case involving a Kenyan cult that practiced starvation rose to 73 on Monday, police sources said, as investigators recovered more bodies from mass graves in a forest near the coast.
Kenyan President William Ruto has vowed to crack down on “unacceptable” religious activities.
A full investigation has been launched into the Good News International Church and its leader, Paul Mackenzie Ntinge, who allegedly preached that death by starvation led followers to God.
Police previously identified the suspect as Mackenzie Anthing.
It is believed that some of his devotees may still be hiding in the bushes around Shakahula, which police raided earlier this month after a tip from a local non-profit group.
Since then, several people have been recovered and dozens of bodies exhumed in mass burials dug in shallow pits.
A police officer told JEE News: “We have 73 dead bodies from the forest till this evening and the exercise will continue tomorrow.”
He said: “It is very sad how these people died and were buried in shallow graves because we found six bodies in one grave today.”
Another official also confirmed the death toll, adding that some bodies were only in the forest and were not even buried.
Earlier, the number was 58, according to Police Chief Jeffett Kom, who visited the scene on Monday.
A 325-hectare (800-acre) area has been treated as a crime scene as teams search for more graves and possible cult survivors.
Ruto, a native, speaking in Nairobi’s neighboring Kembo County, said there was no difference between rogue priests like Nthenge and terrorists.
“Terrorists use religion to fuel their heinous acts. People like Mr McKenzie are using religion to do just that.”
“I have directed the responsible agencies to take up the matter and get to the root of the activities of those who want to use religion to promote a strange, unacceptable ideology.”
Questions have been raised about how the cult has continued to operate since Nthenge brought it to the attention of the police six years ago.
Senate Speaker Amazon Jeff Kingi said in a statement:
“The horror unfolded by the Shekahola sect killings should and should be a wake-up call to the nation, especially the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and our community policing program.”
“How did such a heinous crime, organized and carried out over such a long period of time, escape the radar of our intelligence system?”
Nthenge was arrested in 2017 on charges of “fundamentalism” after urging families not to send their children to school, saying the education was not recognized by the Bible.
He was arrested again last month, after two children starved to death in their parents’ custody, according to local media.
He was released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700) before surrendering to police after the Shakahula raid.
An additional 14 people are in custody in connection with the Shakaholla killings, according to Koum. The case is scheduled to be heard on May 2.
