The number of cult members who fasted to death increased to 103.
- April 27, 2023
- 0
Police said today the number of suspected religious sects in southern Kenya who have fasted to death to meet Jesus Christ has risen to 103 as exhumations continue
Police said today the number of suspected religious sects in southern Kenya who have fasted to death to meet Jesus Christ has risen to 103 as exhumations continue to search for more bodies in the forest.
Kenyan Coast Regional Police Commissioner Rodah Onyancha confirmed the figure after five bodies were found in a forest near the town of Shakahol, about seventy kilometers from the tourist town of Malindi.
“Because this is an area where arrests are also made, we currently have 22 suspects in police custody. The operation is ongoing,” reads a statement compiled by local media in the Onianca region.
“When we closed the day on Wednesday, April 26, we had 39 rescued. Today we did not manage to save anyone, but our groups are still in the forest and continue the operation,” the police officer added on the seventh day of the operation in Shakahol.
The death toll includes, in addition to the bodies that Kenyan authorities discover in a wooded area, at least eight people who died in hospital due to poor condition after being rescued.
Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday denounced the event as an act of “terrorism” and assured that the country would not tolerate “people preaching misleading sermons that result in deaths.”
Ruto pointed out that the pastor of the church who allegedly convinced Kenyans to fast to death to “reunite with Jesus Christ” “should be” in prison, Paul Mackenzie Ntenge of the so-called Good News International Church.
On Wednesday, the government imposed a 30-day curfew on the investigation area, and authorities have been blocking press access ever since.
In a statement released today, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the media regulator, said denying journalists access to report on a matter of public interest would open the door to misinformation, rumors and confusion.
On April 13, after information was leaked, the police raided a place where Ntenge’s followers were fasting and rescued fifteen people, but four of them died on the way to Malindi hospital.
This police operation subsequently gave rise to the current excavations in search of graves.
Ntenge, a former taxi driver, has been in police custody since May 14 and is awaiting a May 2 court appearance with other suspects.
In March last year, the scandalous pastor was already arrested on charges of involvement in the death of two children under similar circumstances, but was released on bail.
(EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
