Kenyan investigators exhumed 21 more bodies on Tuesday as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult, who the interior minister described as victims of a 'highly organised crime'.
Forensic experts and homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations , gather to exhume bodies of suspected followers of a Christian cult named as"Good News International Church", who believed they would go to heaven if they starved themselves to death, in Shakahola forest of Kilifi county, Kenya May 9, 2023.
The latest figures on bodies exhumed, announced by regional official Rhoda Onyancha, brings the death toll to 133. The exhumations are expected to resume on Wednesday. “We have many more graves in this forest and therefore it leads us to conclude that this was a highly organised crime,” interior minister Kithure Kindiki told reporters during a visit to the forest, where workers wearing hazmat suits and masks were digging up graves.
President William Ruto on Friday announced an inquiry into the mass deaths, while a court kept Mackenzie in detention pending further investigations.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kenyan Leaders Blocked From Politicizing Shakahola Cult DeathsInterior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has vowed undying resolve to enforce the restriction on a Shakahola mass murder site, saying security agencies will only allow parliamentary oversight, reports Bruhan Makong for Capital FM. While urging politicians to refrain from politicizing the tragic Shakahola Forest Massacre and allow security agencies to conduct thorough investigations into the deaths of over 100 followers of the controversial televangelist, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Kindiki said the government had nothing to hide. Kindiki dismissed claims that the state is intending to wage a war against religious institutions, clarifying that the prime focus has been turned to ridding the country of rogues advancing extremism and criminal activities. Kindiki's comments on security restrictions came days after Opposition leader Raila Odinga was denied entry into the Shakahola forest, with police saying access was restricted due to the ongoing operation. Odinga, accompanied by some of the local leaders, said he was visiting the area to witness the ongoing operation following the recovery of more than 100 bodies exhumed since April. The country has been stunned by the discovery of the graves in April near the Indian Ocean coastal town of Malindi, in what has been dubbed the "Shakahola forest massacre". The self-proclaimed 'pastor', who is due to face terrorism charges for allegedly urging followers to starve to death "to meet Jesus," appeared in the dock in Mombasa. Mackenzie is facing the charges along with 17 other defendants. Autopsies carried out on over 100 bodies have found that while starvation appeared to be the main cause of death, some of the victims - including children - were strangled, beaten, or suffocated.
Read more »
Forest search resumes for Kenyan death cult victims of 'highly organised crime'Kenyan investigators have resumed the search for members of a doomsday cult in a forest where more than 100 corpses, mostly of children, have been exhumed, victims of a 'highly organised crime', Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said on Tuesday.
Read more »
Magaqa murder trial to continue on TuesdayThe Sindiso Magaqa murder trial has been adjourned to Tuesday.
Read more »
Another sunny day in Cape Town – Tuesday weather forecastGood morning, Cape {town} Etc family! It is another sunny day in Cape Town this Tuesday. See what's on the weather forecast:
Read more »