By John Ikani
Kenya’s coast is still reeling from the horrific discovery of dozens of bodies buried in a forest near Malindi, which authorities suspect to be the result of a starvation cult.
As of Wednesday, the number of victims had climbed to 95, and there are fears that Nigerians may be among the dead.
Reports say that Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, a former taxi driver who turned radical pastor, has been arrested for encouraging members of his church, the Good News International Church, to seek God through starvation.
The church has a diverse following, with members from countries such as Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
Kenya Red Cross officials have confirmed that 311 people, including 150 minors, have been reported missing in the area, and not all the victims are Kenyans.
The identities of the corpses found in the mass graves have not been revealed.
According to Rhoda Onyancha, Coast Regional Commissioner, the majority of the dead were children, with some being found wrapped in cotton shrouds inside shallow pits.
The discovery has prompted calls for a crackdown on fringe religious outfits in the largely Christian country.
The Malindi Sub-County Hospital morgue is already overstretched, and with dozens of bodies being recovered, more deaths are feared.
Families of the missing are desperate for information, with some having loved ones who have been missing for years.
Hussein Khalid, the executive director of the rights group Haki Africa, who tipped off the police about Nthenge’s activities, revealed that the cult’s alleged practices included urging parents to starve their children, women, and finally men.
He stated that 50 to 60 percent of the victims were children.
Nthenge, who is known for his radical doctrine, has been arrested in the past.
He was arrested in 2017 on charges of “radicalization” after urging families not to send their children to school, stating that education was not recognized by the Bible.
The pastor was arrested again last month after two children starved to death in their parents’ custody.
He was released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700) before surrendering to police following the Shakahola raid.
Nthenge is due to appear in court on May 2nd.
Kenya’s President, William Ruto, has vowed to take action against rogue pastors like Nthenge, whom he accuses of trying to use religion to advance weird, unacceptable ideologies.
