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Shakahola Forest incident

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Shakahola Massacre
Shakahola Forest incident is located in Kenya
Shakahola Forest incident
Shakahola Forest incident (Kenya)
Location of Shakahola
DateMarch 2023[1]
LocationShakahola village, near Malindi, Kenya
Coordinates3°06′43″S 39°33′07″E / 3.112°S 39.552°E / -3.112; 39.552
CauseMass starvation, suffocation, strangulation, blunt force trauma
MotiveMackenzie's followers were forced to go without food to "meet Jesus"[2]
PerpetratorPaul Nthenge Mackenzie
Organized byGood News International Ministries
Deaths448 (as of June 12, 2024)
Non-fatal injuries72
Missing613
BurialShakahola Forest
Suspects36

The Shakahola Forest incident involves a religious cult led by Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, founder of Good News International Ministries. The incident came to public attention in March of 2023 when a concerned man reported to the police that his wife and daughter, who had traveled from Nairobi, Kenya, to join Paul Nthenge Mackenzie's remote Good News International Ministries in Kilifi County had not returned.[3]

Upon investigating the community, police discovered emaciated people and shallow graves. They rescued fifteen members of the group who revealed that they had been instructed to starve themselves to death to "meet Jesus." Despite the rescue efforts, four of the fifteen followers died before reaching the hospital due to their critical condition[3]

Incident

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Over the following three weeks, police began their search of the 800-acre (3.2 km2) property, finding more shallow graves and additional survivors who were starving to death. The first bodies recovered from the graves were mostly children. One of the graves is believed by police to contain the bodies of five members of the same family – three children and their parents. One of the graves had up to six people inside it while another one had twelve children in it. Some of the bodies were not buried. Authorities also discovered a number of other emaciated individuals, including one who had been buried alive for three days and was later taken to a hospital for treatment. Local authorities began requesting assistance from other jurisdictions to help with efforts at the commune.[4][5][6][7]

Authorities believed that an unknown number of missing people were still hiding in the forest on the commune and evading authorities while continuing to fast. Authorities reported that members of the commune were actively trying to hinder their efforts to find survivors.[4][5][8][7]

According to testimonies to police, Mackenzie told his followers "the fast would count only if they gathered together, and offered them his farm as a fasting venue. They were not to mingle with anyone from the 'outside' world if they wanted to go to heaven and were to destroy all documents given by the government, including national IDs and birth certificates."[9] On 26 May, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared that Mackenzie hired criminals armed with crude weapons to kill followers who changed their minds about fasting and wanted out, as well as those who took too long to die.[2]

As of 10 May 2023, 133 deaths were reported[10] including eight who were rescued but later died.[11] The majority of deaths were of children, with women being the next largest group, according to Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki.[12] He additionally stated that not all deaths were by starvation, saying that "there were other methods used, including hurting them, just by physical and preliminary observations."[12] Autopsies conducted on more than 100 bodies showed that the victims died of starvation, strangulation, suffocation and blunt trauma.[13] The Kenyan Red Cross reported on 30 April that 410 individuals, including 227 minors, were missing.[14][15]

As of 2 August, the total number of reported deaths was 427,[16] and the number of those reported missing stood at 613. As of 24 May, 91 had been rescued.[17][18][19] On 25 May, local news outlet K24TV noted that "The exact number of people who perished in the massacre might never be known following reports that there are instances where bodies were plunged in random deep pit latrines scattered in the expansive Chakama ranch where cult leader Paul Mackenzie led an unknown number of his followers."[20] On September 18 The Nation reported that a total of 429 bodies had been exhumed from Shakahola Forest, adding that “The latest data indicates that 214 died from starvation, 39 from asphyxia, 14 from head injury, while 115 remain unascertained, and others from other causes.” [21]

Mackenzie, his third wife Rhoda Mumbua Maweu and 16 other members of the group were arrested by authorities and are being held in police custody as of 7 May 2023.[22] Mackenzie was denied bail on 10 May and the police plan to charge him with terrorism-related offenses. As of 14 June, the total number of those arrested was 36.[23][24] On 21 June, one of the suspects died in custody after a hunger strike. The suspect, Joseph Juma Buyuka, reportedly died on Monday while undergoing treatment in a nearby Malindi Hospital. Two other suspects admitted on the same day as Buyuka are reportedly in critical condition.[25]

On 24 April, search teams had to stop digging for bodies until autopsies were completed on the first 90 bodies that were found because the Malindi Sub-County Hospital's morgue was running out of space to store the bodies.[7] On 28 April, it was reported that heavy rain was slowing rescue and recovery efforts.[26]

"Mackenzie brainwashed his converts using William Branham's End of Days Theology, and convinced them that starvation could hasten their escape from this life to be with Jesus," detectives from the homicide unit said.[27]

Police authorities claimed that some of the bodies were missing organs, which "raised suspicions of forced harvesting."[28][29][30] However, on 10 May, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki refuted these assertions as "politicisation of the probe into the massacre," and advised the public to "treat [allegedly missing body parts] as rumours. People who have facts are those on the ground not those in offices."[31][32][33] As of 8 May, autopsies performed on 112 of the exhumed bodies ruled out the possibility of organ harvesting.[34]

On 12 June, 65 victims were arraigned at the Shanzu Law Courts for attempted suicide. According to the Citizen Digital news service, “The prosecution made an application to have them remanded in prison because the rescue centre can no longer hold them. They are also set to undergo a mental and medical assessment and be forced to eat in prison.” [35]

On July 3, the Shanzu Magistrate Court released Rhoda Maweu on a personal bond of KSH 100,000 (US $711) with a surety bond of KSH 300,000 (US $2,131). In his ruling, Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda said the state had failed to prove why Maweu should continue being held with the other accused persons. In regard to Mackenzie and the 16 co-accused, the court ruled that they should remain in custody for another 30 days.[36]

Mackenzie and thirty other defendants were charged in January 2024 with the murders of 191 children, 180 of whom could not be identified.[37]

Reactions

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Kenyan President William Ruto said Mackenzie's beliefs were contrary to authentic religion.[38][39] He appointed a commission of inquiry into the deaths and created a task force to review the regulations governing religious organizations.[4]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said, "This horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrator(s) of the atrocity on so many innocent souls, but tighter regulation (including self-regulation) of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue going forward."[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Woman starved, suffocated to death own children to 'please God'". Monitor. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Thiong’o, Josphat. "Kindiki: Makenzi hired armed gangs to kill followers who backed out of starving plan or took too long to die". Evening Standard. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Number of bodies exhumed from suspected Kenyan cult graves jumps to 47". Hindustan Times. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Kenya starvation cult death toll climbs to 201, Al Jazeera
  5. ^ a b Achieng, Serfine (20 April 2023). "Malindi Cult: Shock As 12 More Graves Discovered, Number Rises To 27". Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ^ Fiorillo, Chiara (14 April 2023). "Four cult members starve to death in Kenyan forest after 'fasting to meet Jesus'". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Kenya starvation cult death toll hits 90 as morgues fill up: 'Nothing prepares you for shallow mass graves of children'". CBS News. AFP. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023.
  8. ^ Fiorillo, Chiara (14 April 2023). "Four cult members starve to death in Kenyan forest after 'fasting to meet Jesus'". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  9. ^ Akello, Immaculate (25 April 2023). "Why did 73 Kenyan cult members starve to death?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  10. ^ "More bodies found in search for Kenyan forest death cult followers". Reuters. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. ^ "As cult deaths top 100, second Kenyan pastor arrested over 'mass killings'". ABC News (Australia). 27 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b Mersie, Ayenat (28 April 2023). "Children account for majority of Kenyan cult deaths, interior minister says". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  13. ^ Kenya cult death toll rises to 200; more than 600 reported missing, CBS News
  14. ^ Kimeu, Caroline (30 April 2023). "'We tried to stop her': Kenyan teenager tells how cult starved his mother". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  15. ^ Wangira, Dorcas (1 May 2023). "Kenya starvation cult: 'My wife and six children followed Pastor Mackenzie'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Two unborn babies raise Shakahola deaths to 427".
  17. ^ "Shakahola cult: 613 people reported to be missing". Nation. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Shakahola horror: 3 people rescued, 10 more bodies exhumed". The Star. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Shakahola cult: Record number of bodies exhumed, total now 179". Nation. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Shakahola tragedy: Kindiki to oversee postmortem of 129 bodies : K24 TV". www.k24tv.co.ke. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Shakahola cult: State seeks to detain Mackenzie, 29 others for 180 more days". 18 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Shakahola cult: Paul Mackenzie, his wife and 16 followers held 5 more days". Nation. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Shakahola death toll hits 318 as 15 more bodies exhumed". Nation. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Shakahola cult: 22 more bodies exhumed, exercise suspended for 2 days". The Star. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Suspect in Kenya cult deaths dies in custody after hunger strike". AL Jazeera.
  26. ^ Kithi, Marion (28 April 2023). "360 people reported missing as heavy rains disrupt Shakahola operation". The Standard. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  27. ^ Njoka, Sophia (27 April 2023). "Mackenzie: Cult leader who led legions to death". Peoples Daily. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  28. ^ Nation. Africa (9 May 2023). "Some of the Shakahola cult victims had their organs missing". The Citizen. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Autopsies reveal missing organs in Kenya cult deaths, say police". The Guardian. 9 May 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Autopsies reveal missing organs in Kenya cult deaths, say police". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 9 May 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  31. ^ Kithi, Marion. "Kindiki dismisses police report on Shakahola body organs trade". The Standard. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Shakahola Victims Have All Body Organs". Tuko. 10 May 2023.
  33. ^ "Keep off Shakahola forest, CS Kindiki bans politicians". The Standard. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Autopsies rule out organ harvesting in Kenya cult deaths". Africa News. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Shakahola cult: 65 survivors charged with attempted suicide". Citizen Digital. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Cult leaders wife freed on bail in Kenya". BBC.
  37. ^ Odula, Tom (18 January 2024). "Kenya doomsday cult leader, 30 others face charges of murdering 191 children. More charges to follow". The Associated Press.
  38. ^ Holland, Hereward (24 April 2023). "Death toll in Kenyan starvation cult rises to 73 – police". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Ruto speaks on Shakahola cult: 'Paul Mackenzie belongs in jail'". Nation. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
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