Shakahola starvation cult rises to 90

by Wanja Waweru

The Shakula massacre has been referred to as a transformative moment for Kenya in terms of how it addresses security concerns raised by religious insurgents, according to Cabinet Home Secretary (CS) Kethuri Kindiki.

The death toll of the Kilifi group rose to 90 when seven more bodies, including a child, were exhumed from a cemetery in Chakula Forest on Tuesday afternoon.

And 17 bodies were recovered on Tuesday alone.

“This was an abuse of the basic rights of liberty with the alleged use of the Bible to kill and cause massacre. Those who urged others to fast and die were eating and drinking and allegedly preparing them to meet their Creator,” CS said after he landed at the farm on Tuesday afternoon.

He claimed that Mackenzie and his associates would meet fate and be made to pay exorbitant sums for the suffering and loss of life they had inflicted on humanity.

According to CS, the state is also looking into another alleged cult in the same Kilifi County that may be exploiting the religion to deceive Kenyans.

We have expanded the network to another religious organization here in Kilifi. We have opened a formal investigation into this religious group, and we are getting important evidence that what Mackenzie was doing may have been the tip of the iceberg,” says Professor Kennedy.

On Tuesday morning, police found 10 more bodies of people believed to be followers of a Christian sect who believed they would go to heaven if they starved themselves.

The total number of deaths attributed to the Paul Mackenzie-led sect now stands at 89, including the eight victims who died after being rescued in a police raid that lifted the lid on atrocities at the church.