Police rescued a woman
NAIROBI, April 20 (NNN-KBC) — Homicide detectives have discovered 15 graves believed to be those of followers of controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie of the Good News International Church.
The graves were discovered on an 800-acre parcel of land that is alleged to belong to the suspected cult leader who has been forcing his congregants to fast to death to meet Jesus Christ.
According to police reports, the operation by a multi-agency team uncovered 15 graves, three bodies while 13 people were rescued (11 men and two women).
The graves were discovered in different areas among them thickets, near the homes of the pastor’s followers while others were hidden in remote areas.
Police who are fearing more people could be dead and buried combed the forest for the better part of Wednesday.
“Those rescued in critical condition after forced fasting /starvation were ferried by an ambulance to Malindi Subcounty Hospital for checkup; as well as the able ones. The exercise ended at about 7:15 pm” the report reads in part.
The operation is being led by the Director of the Homicide Division of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Martin Nyaguto, and may take three consecutive days to establish whether there are more graves in the sprawling forest that has been the abode of Makenzi’s followers since 2019.
Families of victims who are yet to know the whereabouts of their kin have asked the government to do everything to get their relatives, dead or alive.
Mackenzie is being held at the Malindi Police Station after Malindi Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui Monday granted the police 14 days to hold him and six of his followers to complete investigations.
Seven other ardent followers of the spiritual leader who had refused to eat while in hospital and at the police station were also ordered to remain in police custody to allow the officers time to get counsellors for them. — NNN-KBC
