Two pastors appeared before Kenyan courts, accused of being responsible for the grisly deaths of at least 109 people who were found buried in what has been dubbed the "Shakahola forest massacre."&nbsp;Mass graves were found last month in a forest close to the Indian Ocean coastal town of Malindi, shocking the deeply religious nation with a majority of Christians.

<h2>Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and&nbsp;Ezekiel Odero: The two pastors accused of cult massacre</h2>

Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a self-styled pastor who founded the Good News International Church in 2003 and is accused of inciting cult members to starve to death "to meet Jesus," made an appearance in court in Malindi on Tuesday (May 2).

Mackenzie and eight additional defendants were led in by around six police officers as the small courtroom filled with victims' relatives. He&nbsp;met with his lawyer George Kariuki while wearing a pink, black and brown jacket with&nbsp;brown trousers.

George Kariuki&nbsp;told AFP: "We have not been told what application the prosecution wants to make. We are just waiting to see."

The majority of the 109 reported deaths&nbsp;are those of children. An autopsy was done on nine kids&nbsp;and one woman on Monday (May 1).

Although some of the victims were asphyxiated, authorities&nbsp;confirmed that starvation was the cause of death, reported AFP.

Rich and well-known televangelist Ezekiel Odero is also scheduled to appear in court in Mombasa, the second-largest city in East Africa, after being detained in Malindi on Thursday.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/my-children-are-dead-i-know-for-sure-father-of-kenya-starvation-cult-victims-586520">&nbsp;'My children are dead, I know for sure': Father of Kenya starvation cult victims</a>

Odero is allegedly responsible for killing, aiding suicide, kidnapping, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child abuse, fraud, and money laundering.

The prosecution is asking for a 30-day extension of his detention, citing reliable evidence connecting the murders of multiple "innocent and vulnerable followers" of Odero's New Life Prayer Centre and Church to the corpses exhumed in Shakahola, reported AFP.

The former cab driver surrendered on April 14 after the police entered Shakahola forest following a tip-off where some 30 mass graves have been found.

Prosecutors claim that Odero and Mackenzie have a connection because they have a "history of business investments," which includes a television station that broadcasts "radicalised messages" to followers.

It has been questioned in court how Mackenzie, a self-styled pastor with an image of extremism, has avoided arrest despite his high profile and prior legal cases.&nbsp;

As a result of the tragedy, President William Ruto has intervened in Kenya's internal religious movements to draw attention to the failure of measures to control fraudulent churches and cults that dabble in illicit activities.&nbsp;

Ruto will put to work a task team this week to determine the best way to regulate religious activities in Kenya, which has roughly 4,000 churches, as per&nbsp;Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Two pastors appeared before Kenyan courts, accused of being responsible for the grisly deaths of at least 109 people who were found buried in what has been dubbed the "Shakahola forest massacre.

Two pastors appeared before Kenyan courts, accused of being responsible for the grisly deaths of at least 109 people who were found buried in what has been dubbed the "Shakahola forest massacre." Mass graves were found last month in a forest close to the Indian Ocean coastal town of Malindi, shocking the deeply religious nation with a majority of Christians. Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and Ezekiel Odero: The two pastors accused of cult massacre Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a self-styled pastor who founded the Good News International Church in 2003 and is accused of inciting cult members to starve to death "to meet Jesus," made an appearance in court in Malindi on Tuesday (May 2). Mackenzie and eight additional defendants were led in by around six police officers as the small courtroom filled with victims' relatives. He met with his lawyer George Kariuki while wearing a pink, black and brown jacket with brown trousers. George Kariuki told AFP: "We have not been told what application the prosecution wants to make. We are just waiting to see." The majority of the 109 reported deaths are those of children. An autopsy was done on nine kids and one woman on Monday (May 1). Although some of the victims were asphyxiated, authorities confirmed that starvation was the cause of death, reported AFP. Rich and well-known televangelist Ezekiel Odero is also scheduled to appear in court in Mombasa, the second-largest city in East Africa, after being detained in Malindi on Thursday. ALSO READ | 'My children are dead, I know for sure': Father of Kenya starvation cult victims Odero is allegedly responsible for killing, aiding suicide, kidnapping, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child abuse, fraud, and money laundering. The prosecution is asking for a 30-day extension of his detention, citing reliable evidence connecting the murders of multiple "innocent and vulnerable followers" of Odero's New Life Prayer Centre and Church to the corpses exhumed in Shakahola, reported AFP. The former cab driver surrendered on April 14 after the police entered Shakahola forest following a tip-off where some 30 mass graves have been found. Prosecutors claim that Odero and Mackenzie have a connection because they have a "history of business investments," which includes a television station that broadcasts "radicalised messages" to followers. It has been questioned in court how Mackenzie, a self-styled pastor with an image of extremism, has avoided arrest despite his high profile and prior legal cases. As a result of the tragedy, President William Ruto has intervened in Kenya's internal religious movements to draw attention to the failure of measures to control fraudulent churches and cults that dabble in illicit activities. Ruto will put to work a task team this week to determine the best way to regulate religious activities in Kenya, which has roughly 4,000 churches, as per Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing trial in court over starvation cult massacre?

Mass murderer Charles Manson is reportedly being treated for a terminal illness at&nbsp;Bakersfield hospital in California Wednesday.&nbsp;

Kern County Sheriff&rsquo;s Lt. Bill Smallwood confirmed to the entertainment website TMZ that Manson is at a local hospital but could not say more.

Escorted by five uniformed cops, he has been wheeled around for several treatments.&nbsp; 
 
According to the reports, Manson&#39;s health has been steadily deteriorating and&nbsp;&quot;it&#39;s just a matter of time&quot; for him.&nbsp;

Manson has been suffering from serious health issues since last January when he was hospitalized for severe intestinal bleeding and needed surgery to repair a lesion ... but was deemed too weak by doctors and sent back to prison.

Manson and members of his &ldquo;family&rdquo; of followers were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate and six other people during a bloody rampage in the Los Angeles area in August 1969. Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war he dubbed &ldquo;Helter Skelter,&rdquo; taken from the Beatles song of the same name.

Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, was more than 8&nbsp;months pregnant when she was killed at her hilltop home in Benedict Canyon on Aug. 9, 1969. Four others were stabbed and shot to death the same night: Jay Sebring, 35; Voytek Frykowski, 32; Abigail Folger, 25, a coffee heiress; and Steven Parent, 18, a friend of Tate&rsquo;s caretaker. The word &ldquo;pig&rdquo; was written on the front door in blood.

The next night, Manson rode with his followers to the Los Feliz home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, then left three members to kill the couple.

Manson was initially sentenced to death but a 1972 ruling by the California Supreme Court found the state&rsquo;s death penalty law at the time unconstitutional, and his sentence was changed to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He has been denied parole 12 times.

&nbsp;

Manson is serving life without parole for leading his ?family? of followers on a killing spree in Los Angeles

Mass murderer Charles Manson is reportedly being treated for a terminal illness at Bakersfield hospital in California Wednesday. Kern County Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Smallwood confirmed to the entertainment website TMZ that Manson is at a local hospital but could not say more. Escorted by five uniformed cops, he has been wheeled around for several treatments. According to the reports, Manson's health has been steadily deteriorating and "it's just a matter of time" for him. Manson has been suffering from serious health issues since last January when he was hospitalized for severe intestinal bleeding and needed surgery to repair a lesion ... but was deemed too weak by doctors and sent back to prison. Manson and members of his “family” of followers were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate and six other people during a bloody rampage in the Los Angeles area in August 1969. Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war he dubbed “Helter Skelter,” taken from the Beatles song of the same name. Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, was more than 8 months pregnant when she was killed at her hilltop home in Benedict Canyon on Aug. 9, 1969. Four others were stabbed and shot to death the same night: Jay Sebring, 35; Voytek Frykowski, 32; Abigail Folger, 25, a coffee heiress; and Steven Parent, 18, a friend of Tate’s caretaker. The word “pig” was written on the front door in blood. The next night, Manson rode with his followers to the Los Feliz home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, then left three members to kill the couple. Manson was initially sentenced to death but a 1972 ruling by the California Supreme Court found the state’s death penalty law at the time unconstitutional, and his sentence was changed to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He has been denied parole 12 times.

Mass murderer Charles Manson hospitalised, in bad shape

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Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing trial in court over starvation cult massacre?

Mass murderer Charles Manson hospitalised, in bad shape