Kenyan authorities have initiated the release of the remains of individuals who perished in a cult allegedly advocating self-starvation. Out of the 429 bodies exhumed from the remote Shakahola forest in the east of the country, 34 have been identified with the assistance of DNA samples from their relatives. On Tuesday, seven bodies were handed over to three families.
Self-proclaimed Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie preached an apocalyptic message, purportedly urging his followers to fast to hasten the arrival of Jesus, a claim he denies. Francis Wanje, a high-school teacher who lost eight family members, including his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, received four bodies. Their disappearance ultimately led investigators to the discovery of mass graves in the vast forest.
Relatives received psychological counseling from members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who also provided support as they grieved upon viewing the remains of their loved ones. The identification process has been arduous, taking a year due to severe decomposition of the bodies, a high caseload, and limited resources for DNA testing.
While the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights criticized the delay, Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor noted that many families hadn’t claimed the bodies, complicating DNA sampling. Cost concerns also hindered some families, with one unable to afford transport for their deceased relative’s body.
Last month, Mackenzie and 29 others involved with the Kenyan cult were charged with various crimes, including the murder of 191 children. They pleaded not guilty..
Meanwhile, Kenyan authorities have begun returning the bodies to relatives amidst a legal case that has shocked the nation. Cult leader Paul Mackenzie faces accusations of orchestrating his followers’ deaths through starvation to facilitate a divine encounter. Emotions ran high as families retrieved their loved ones from the Malindi mortuary for reburial.
Mackenzie’s trial, set to commence on April 23, comes after Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki labeled his Good News International Ministries a criminal organized group. Mackenzie is currently serving a one-year prison sentence for operating a film studio without a valid license.
Criticism has emerged regarding authorities’ failure to intervene despite reports of mass deaths in the remote Shakahola area. The Kenya Human Rights Commission alleges that police overlooked crucial reports about this Kenyan Cult, which could have potentially prevented the tragedy.
(With Inputs From AP)
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