The bodies of more than six dozen individuals have been recovered in Kenya on land owned by a pastor who has been arrested for telling his followers they should fast until they die. The bodies were found in shallow graves.
The land belongs to pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested earlier this month after his actions were found to be linked to cultism, according to a report from The Associated Press.
John Kemboi, the Malindi sub-county police chief, spoke during a press conference last week, sharing that all of the graves have yet to be dug up.
Other local officials now report that the total death count has risen to 73, Reuters reported.
The death toll has continued to rise over the weekend, with first reports noting that 39 bodies had been unearthed, then 47, and now 73. The death toll could rise further, as Reuters reported that the Kenyan Red Cross now says 112 people have been reported missing to a tracing and counseling desk set up at a local hospital.
The church victims were members of the Good News International Church. The AP reported that at the church, local police discovered several of Makenzi’s followers starving, some on the brink of death.
The investigation into the death of the pastor’s followers remains ongoing at this point, and the police are looking to hold Makenzi longer, to let their investigation play out, AlJazeera reported.
Charles Kamau, the head detective in Malindi, shared with Reuters that three more people have been arrested in connection to the deaths and Makenzi.
According to the AP, police in Malindi stormed Makenzi’s compound, where they located over a dozen people starving because the pastor told them they had to in order to meet Jesus.
Members of the community were responsible for tipping off the police about the actions taking place, and police were notified that dozens of shallow graves were present across Makenzi’s farm, the AP reported.
Police began exhuming graves on the 800-acre plot of land last Friday and continued into the weekend, AlJazeera reported.
While in police custody, Makenzi has been on a hunger strike. He was arrested last week and has been in custody for over five days.
The investigation remains ongoing at this point.
Related
Related
