Kenya: Fasted to death to go to heaven, found buried in the forest

Police began exhuming bodies from the Sacahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi on Friday. “In all, 47 people were killed in the Sacahula Forest,” police inspector Charles Kamau told Reuters. But he added that the investigation is continuing to identify the other victims.

Earlier this month, police rescued 15 congregation members of the International Church of the Annunciation, who said they had been ordered to starve. But four of those died before they reached the hospital.

The cult’s leader, Paul Mackenzie, was arrested after authorities received a tip-off about “shallow graves” in which at least 31 of his followers were buried. Local media reported that Mackenzie refused to eat or drink anything while in detention.

Home Affairs Minister Ketor Kediki said the entire forest, which covers about 3,200 hectares, had been cordoned off and declared a crime scene.

“This appalling blow to our conscience must not only lead to severe punishment for the perpetrators of these atrocities at the cost of many innocent lives, but also to stricter regulations (including self-regulation) for every church, mosque, temple or synagogue.”