Authorities exhumed 12 more bodies on Monday, July 17, raising the death toll to over 400 in connection with the doomsday cult led by Pastor Mackenzie.
Pastor Paul Mackenzie, the alleged mastermind behind the Good News International Church in Kenya, is currently in police custody along with 36 other suspects. Although Mackenzie denies allegations of ordering his followers to fast until death, several outlets have reported on his chilling instructions.
Distressed relatives have come forward, stating that Mackenzie instructed his followers to starve themselves in anticipation of the World’s End on April 15. Stephen Mwiti, whose wife and six children joined the cult, expressed his concerns, stating that Mackenzie had promised to be the last survivor and to lock the doors. The cult was reportedly located in a forested area of Malindi, Kenya, despite Mackenzie’s claims of having closed the church four years ago.
Coast District Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed that the death toll now stands at 403, with DNA testing done on 253 victims.
Although the Kenyan Red Cross has rescued 95 people, they report that 613 people are still missing. As authorities continue to unearth mass graves, no charges have been filed against any of the suspects in custody. Mackenzie, who has been detained since April 14, has embarked on a hunger strike, refusing food and water. Another suspect and alleged cult member, Joseph Juma Buyuka, reportedly died in police custody after participating in a similar hunger strike, and 30 other suspects had also stopped eating but resumed after being taken to court for trying to end their lives.
Former members of the church revealed that Mackenzie promoted fasting as part of the church’s teachings, which were centered around apocalyptic themes. BBC News reported that his sermons addressing these topics were available online, contradicting Mackenzie’s claims of church closure. While no direct evidence has surfaced that Mackenzie explicitly instructed his followers to fast until death, the footage suggests sacrifices, including the sacrifice of their lives. Mackenzie was previously arrested in relation to the disappearance of children but was later released on bond.
Acknowledging the government’s failure to prevent these deaths, Kenyan President William Ruto expressed his remorse and promised a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable. Ruto assured the nation that all necessary agencies would be involved in the investigation.
