Police Find 26 More Death Bodies in Investigation of Kenyan Cult

Senin, 24 April 2023 - 16:00 WIB

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Arianti Widya

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U-Report

VIVA – Kenyan Police on Sunday found twenty-six more bodies in an investigation into a suspected cult whose followers are believed to have starved themselves to death in order to meet Jesus, police sources have said.

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Search teams wearing white overalls and equipped with masks were continuing to dig at the site in search of other bodies. A number of bodies had already been wrapped in white plastic sheeting, "Today we have exhumed 26 more bodies and this brings the total number of bodies from that place," said the head of criminal investigations in Malindi, eastern Kenya, Charles Kamau.

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He said the search was continuing not just for bodies but for survivors of the Kenyan cult. Police launched their operation after the first bodies were discovered last week.An 800-acre (325-hectare) area of forest at Shakahola, near Malindi, has been sealed off for the search operation.

The victims were allegedly followers of Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor of the heretical sect Good News International Church. Nthenge reportedly told his followers to fast in order to meet Jesus.

Nthenge has actually surrendered to the police. He was later charged after two of his child followers reportedly starved to death under his parents' watch. He was released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings, equivalent to IDR 11.1 million. However, later, the police arrested Nthenge on April 15.

At that time, police found the bodies of four of Nthenge's followers who had reportedly starved to death in order to "meet Jesus." Nthenge is scheduled to go on trial on May 2. "The pastor will have to face all charges even though he has gone on hunger strike and said he prayed and fasted in detention," the police source said.

Meanwhile, eleven of Nthenge's followers, seven men, and four women are in hospital after being rescued on April 14. Three of them are in critical condition.