Some freed followers of cult leader Paul Mackenzie faint as result of protest hunger strike during hearing of “Shakahola Forest Massacre” case in Mombasa court
NAIROBI, Kenya
Despite the latest discovery of 19 more bodies in the coastal town of Malindi in Kenya, bringing the death toll to 303, some members of an ultra-religious starvation cult observing a protest hunger strike collapsed in a local court during a hearing of the “Shakahola Forest Massacre” case on Wednesday.
A senior government prosecutor said 16 of the 65 freed followers of cult leader Paul Mackenzie have refused to consume any food for nearly two weeks.
And some of them even collapsed in the Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa during the hearing on Wednesday, raising concerns about their deteriorating health and the possibility of fatalities while in custody.
“They (Mackenzie’s followers) went on hunger strike 10 days ago and have refused to eat or drink water. We are concerned that some of these respondents may die in custody,” Senior Prosecution Counsel Jami Yamina told the court.
The prosecution emphasized the stark difference in treatment between cult leaders and their followers, pointing out that only Mackenzie and a few of his aides were observed eating food.
Earlier on Tuesday, police announced the exhumation of 19 more bodies, bringing the total number of cult members killed to 303. This is the highest daily count since the third phase of the operation began, the police said in a statement.
Hundreds of corpses have been found in Shakahola Forest since mid-April during investigations into a cult run by Mackenzie, a pastor who leads Good News International Church.
He is accused of ordering his followers to starve themselves to death so they could go to heaven before the end of the world.
The investigations have revealed that some of the victims had their organs missing, which has led to suspicions of trafficking in human organs.
While malnutrition appears to be the primary cause of death, autopsies conducted by government officials have revealed distressing findings.
Disturbingly, authorities have discovered evidence of strangulation, physical abuse, and suffocation among certain victims, including innocent children.
Adding to the already distressing circumstances, police reports have revealed the unsettling fact that several bodies were discovered with organs missing, further deepening the gravity of this heart-wrenching ordeal.
