Shakahola death toll at 391 as 7 more bodies exhumed

By: CORRESPONDENT 1 min read
Shakahola death toll at 391 as 7 more bodies exhumed
Workers carry the exhumed bodies in bodybags to the mortuary, at the mass-grave site in Shakahola, outside the coastal town of Malindi, on April 25, 2023. Kenyan investigators unearthed another 16 bodies on Tuesday in a forest where a cult was believed to be practising mass starvation, bringing the number of victims so far to 89 including children. There are fears more corpses could be found in Shakahola forest where cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge had allegedly been telling his followers that starvation was the only path to God. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)

KWALE, Kenya, Jul 15 – The death toll of the Shakahola cult massacre has hit 391 after seven more bodies were exhumed on Friday.

According to Coast regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, the number of those rescued remain at 95 with 37 arrests having been made.

Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda had since ordered the transfer of Pastor Paul Mackenzie, the primary suspect in the cult investigation, and 28 others to Malindi GK Prison.

The decision came after a state alert indicated that the majority of the suspects, initially held in police stations, had initiated a hunger strike.

During their court appearance for a routine mention, approximately twelve associates of Pastor Mackenzie collapsed at the court due to hunger.

CORRESPONDENT

CORRESPONDENT