2023-05-13 20:36:15
The number of victims of a “hunger sect” in the country’s coastal region rose to more than 200 on Saturday. According to Kenyan media, regional head of authorities Rhoda Onyancha said 22 other victims were exhumed on Saturday. The number of dead sect members is currently 201 mostly starved victims. No survivors were found in the Shakahola forest near Malindi on Saturday.
With the arrest of another suspect, the number of those arrested rose to 26 – including the cult leader. He is currently in custody and had failed with an application for release on bail.
The self-proclaimed pastor, a former taxi driver, founded his church “Good News International Church” in 2003 and most recently lived in isolation with his followers in the forest area. He is said to have asked believers to starve themselves to death in order to be close to Jesus. About four weeks ago, the police found severely malnourished people in critical condition in the forest area, which was later combed through for mass graves.
According to the authorities, the number of cult members reported missing by their relatives has now risen to 610. The exhumations of the numerous mass graves in the forest should not be resumed until Tuesday, it said. The search for possible survivors, however, should continue on Sunday. The interruption of the excavations was justified by logistical requirements.
In view of the high number of deaths, the capacities in the morgue of the local hospital have long been exhausted. The Kenyan Red Cross had brought a refrigerated container to the region in which the dead can initially be stored. So far, DNA samples have been taken from 93 corpses for identification. In addition, the remains of 14 cult victims were handed over to their families for burial, Onyancha said.
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