NAIROBI, Kenya May 12 – The mystery of the Shakahola cult deaths deepened even further Friday when 29 more bodies were exhumed.
Friday’s recoveries were the highest on a single day, raising the death toll to 179, according to Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha.
“We have 29 bodies exhumed today and this brings the total of bodies exhumed to 179,” she told journalists.
By Friday evening, Onyancha said 609 people had been reported missing.
“At least 93 people have come to our desk and their samples have been taken. The number of reported missing persons is now at 609,” she said.
The recoveries came even as the High Court ordered three more weeks of detention for doomsday cult leader Paul Mackenzie who is accused of urging people to starve to death so as to “meet Jesus.”
The controversial pastor faces terrorism charges over what has been dubbed the “Shakahola Forest Massacre” after the grisly discovery last month of mass graves near the Indian Ocean town of Malindi.
A court in the port city of Mombasa ordered Mackenzie, his wife and 16 other suspects held for 30 days, dating from his first court appearance when he was arraigned on May 2.
Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda said that releasing the suspects would jeopardise their safety as well as the ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors had been seeking their detention for another 90 days.
Police believe most of the bodies found near Malindi were followers of Mackenzie, a taxi driver-turned-preacher who is accused of inciting them to starve to death “to meet Jesus.”
