Pastor Mackenzie Starvation Cult: 11 Bodies Exhumed, Raising Death Toll to 109

The death toll from the Shakahola starvation cult has crossed the 100 mark, with the exhumation exercise set to enter its eighth day on Friday.

On Thursday, detectives exhumed the decomposed remains of 11 people, among them five children, bringing the toll to 109.

At the heart of the massacre is Pastor Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church who is accused of manipulating his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus before burying them in shallow graves spread across his 800-acre land in Shakahola, Kilifi County.

The televangelist is alleged to have instructed his followers to quit their jobs, drop out of schools, stop feeding on “worldly food”, and not seek medical treatment in hospitals when sick. 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Mackenzie, who remains in police custody, could be charged with terrorism and genocide. 

The cabinet secretary declared the entire Chakama Ranch where the Shakahola forest is located a disturbed area and an operation zone.

He pointed out that the area is an active security operation zone and no member of the public will be allowed no access to it “except as may be permitted by the operation Commander and/or until these orders are vacated.”

Kindiki further declared a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in the area which will run from 1800hrs in the evening up to and until 0600hrs daily.

To hold any gathering within the 20,418 hectares, one would need to obtain a written order from authorities.