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Paul Mackenzie, 50, a Kenyan cult chief accused of ordering his followers of the members of the Good Information Worldwide Church to starve themselves to demise in Shakahola forest, seems at Malindi Regulation Courts, in Malindi, Kenya, Could 2, 2023. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
SHAKAHOLA FOREST, Kenya — Kenyan investigators exhumed 21 extra our bodies on Tuesday as they resumed a seek for followers of a doomsday cult, who the inside minister described as victims of a “extremely organized crime”.
Paul Mackenzie, chief of the Good Information Worldwide Church, is in custody accused of ordering followers to starve their kids and themselves so they might go to heaven earlier than the top of the world, which he stated would come on April 15.
The most recent figures on our bodies exhumed, introduced by regional official Rhoda Onyancha, convey the demise toll to 133. The exhumations are anticipated to renew on Wednesday.
The search operation within the Shakahola forest in southeastern Kenya had been suspended for a number of days due to dangerous climate, with a whole bunch of individuals nonetheless reported lacking.
“We’ve many extra graves on this forest, and due to this fact it leads us to conclude that this was a extremely organized crime,” Inside Minister Kithure Kindiki informed reporters throughout a go to to the forest, the place employees carrying hazmat fits and masks have been digging up graves.
Kindiki stated earlier on Twitter that autopsy examinations on 112 our bodies that had been exhumed or recovered had ended. Search and rescue efforts for individuals “suspected to be holed up within the thickets and bushes have been occurring”.
President William Ruto on Friday introduced an inquiry into the mass deaths, whereas a courtroom stored Mackenzie in detention pending additional investigations.
Mackenzie has not but been required to enter a plea. His lawyer, George Kariuki, stated he was cooperating with police.
Mackenzie needs the investigation to not be “one-sided” by specializing in him, the lawyer stated. Police ought to hold an open thoughts as a way to unravel the “mess”, Kariuki informed Reuters, offering no additional clarification.
Final week a courtroom launched on bail distinguished televangelist Ezekiel Odero, who authorities say they believe of being concerned within the mass killing of his personal followers.
In contrast to in Mackenzie’s case, police and authorities haven’t stated something about any our bodies being discovered.
Odero can also be suspected of serving to launder cash for Mackenzie, based on courtroom paperwork seen by Reuters through which police say “large money transactions” regarded as linked to the sale of homes belonging to Mackenzie’s followers have been traced to Odero’s financial institution accounts.
Reuters couldn’t instantly attain a lawyer representing Odero.
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