Last Updated on: 8th July 2023, 08:55 pm
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge Arrested After Finding 21 Bodies Of ‘Hunger Cult’
Twenty-one bodies believed to have been victims of a Christian cult who were encouraged to starve have been discovered in Kenya.
In a gruesome find, the bodies were discovered in Shakahola Forest on the outskirts of Malindi, Kenya. After learning that people were “starving to death under the pretense of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a preacher,” police began searching the forest.
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the alleged leader of the Kilifi-based cult, was arrested in connection with the bodies being exhumed.
The preacher reportedly told his followers that they could “get to know Jesus” while starving, earning the group the nickname “hunger worship.”
“They starved to death after being radicalized by a certain church member who told them their work in this world was done,” said Charles Kamau, Malindi subdistrict detective. and they wanted to die and see their Maker.
Children were among the dead and an unnamed police source predicts there will be more.
“We haven’t even scratched the surface, which is a clear indication that we’ll likely have more bodies by the end of this exercise,” added the unnamed police source.
Former church member Titus Katana helped police identify the graves.
On Saturday, April 22, NTV Kenya reported that seven bodies had been removed after two of 32 suspected grave sites were searched.
“We showed the graves to the police and on top of that we saved the life of a woman who only had a few hours left or she would have died too,” Katana told Citizen TV.
In addition to the shocking deaths, eleven other church members were hospitalized, three of whom were in critical condition.
Mackenzie was arrested last month for encouraging two parents to starve and smother their children.
Mackenzie claimed in court that he had been the victim of “hostile propaganda” from former colleagues and that he was unaware of the events leading up to the double murder.
After being released on bail, the cult leader was arrested again on April 15 after more bodies were discovered.
Mackenzie is currently on a hunger strike from police cells.
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