Kenyan government initiates transfer of 429 cult victims

Picture courtesy: (Andrew Kasuku/Associated Press) Morgue workers move body of cult victim.

Mackenzie Cult Tragedy: Kenya Transfers Remains of 429 Victims to Families

(The Post News)- On Tuesday, the Kenyan government initiated the process of transferring the remains of 429 individuals associated with ‘spiritual leader’ Paul Nthenge Mackenzie’s cult, which has stirred significant legal attention and caused shock across the nation, to their respective families.

In a startling discovery last year, Kenyan law enforcement exhumed over 20 bodies from multiple graves in Shakahola forest of Kilifi County where Mackenzie resides. Established around 2003 by Mackenzie in the Malindi area, his church, the Good News International Church (GNIC), had amassed a cult following a notorious reputation over the past sixteen years due to its frequent encounters with the law and radical teachings.

The church’s leader, Mackenzie, surrendered himself to authorities and was taken into custody in April 2023. The arrest followed the deaths of four church members who had starved themselves for three months under Mackenzie’s guidance and the belief that upon death, they would meet Jesus. He expeditiously faced charges for terrorism-related offenses, manslaughter, and torture. Additionally, he was convicted in December for the unlawful production and distribution of films, lacking proper licensing, resulting in a 12-month jail sentence.

In February, Mackenzie and several companions faced charges related to the torture and killing of 191 children. The trial schedule to commence on April 23. McKenzie’s charges now also include murder, as the exhumed bodies exhibited signs of starvation and strangulation. Relatives gathered at the Malindi mortuary as families to collect their loved ones for reburial.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki has officially labeled Mackenzie’s cult as a criminal organization. However, a number of citizens have questioned why authorities didn’t detect any indications of the mass fatalities sooner. Last week, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) criticized the police for not taking action on prior reports that might have averted the deaths in the region, calling it a “gross abdication of duty and negligence”. The Commission further expressed disappointment over the absence of any documented punitive measures against those officers.