Kenyan authorities uncover thirty bodies in village

(MENAFN) Kenyan officials have discovered over thirty additional bodies in a rural village connected to an alleged cult led by self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, according to reports.

A government pathologist confirmed that seven bodies were unearthed on Thursday in Kwa Binzaro, raising the number recovered there during the past week to 32. Forensic investigators are still searching the thick bushland in the area for hidden graves.

“We have exhumed seven bodies and also collected 54 body parts which are spread distances away from the graves. So they look like they were spread by, excavated and eaten by wild animals,” the pathologist said.

Kwa Binzaro is located roughly 30 kilometers from Shakahola, where authorities allege that Mackenzie persuaded his followers to fast to death in order to “meet Jesus.”

Back in 2023, authorities dug up more than 430 bodies from mass graves in Shakahola forest. Medical examinations revealed that most people had died of starvation, while others—including children—showed signs of having been beaten or strangled. Mackenzie, who leads the Good News International Church, has already been charged in separate cases with terrorism, murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, and child abuse. He was taken into custody in April 2023 after police found 15 severely malnourished members of his church.

Investigators are also pursuing at least eleven other suspects believed to be linked to organized crime, radicalization, aiding terrorism, and murder.

In July, a court in Malindi granted permission for Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations to exhume remains from shallow graves in Kwa Binzaro.

Prosecutors indicated that early evidence suggests the victims may have been forced to starve or suffocated as part of extreme religious rituals. Police further reported that some survivors could not explain the disappearance of children, raising additional concerns about foul play.

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