Mass Graves Discovered in Kenya Linked to Religious Group Preaching Fasting to “Encounter Christ”

Kenyan investigators on Tuesday found the remains of 10 people in mass graves linked to a religious group that preaches fasting to “encounter Christ”, bringing the total number of victims to 83, a Press journalist reported at the site, amid growing concerns that more bodies may be found. , according to AFP.

For days, the police have been conducting combing operations in the Chakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi, after receiving information about a religious group headed by Paul Mackenzie Nthingi, who said that starvation sends followers to God.

Three of the bodies found on Tuesday were children. Emergency workers in white overalls dug up remains from shallow graves and found emaciated survivors, according to an AFP journalist.

The news shocked the country, prompting Kenyan President William Ruto to vow to crack down on “unacceptable religious movements”.

As the death toll rose, Malindi Government Hospital authorities warned on Tuesday that the morgue could no longer accommodate more bodies and was overworked.

“The hospital’s morgue can accommodate 40 bodies,” said Syed Ali, the hospital’s administrative officer, adding that officials have contacted the Kenya Red Cross to obtain refrigerated containers.

It is believed that a number of followers of the “Good News International Church” group are still hiding in the forest, and they are in danger of death if they are not found quickly.

Hussein Khaled, executive director of the “My Right Africa” ​​human rights group, had reported the group’s practices to the police and urged the authorities to deploy more rescue personnel to comb the 800-acre forest in search of survivors.

“Every day that passes, the odds of more people dying increase,” he told AFP.

“The horror we have witnessed in the past four days is shocking. Nothing prepares you for the scenes of shallow mass graves of children,” he added.

Investigators told AFP that they found bodies piled in pits, one of which contained up to six bodies, while other bodies were left lying on the ground.

Police Chief Javit Comey confirmed to reporters Monday that 29 people had been rescued and taken to hospital.