Kenyan investigators on Tuesday (May 9) exhumed 21 more bodies as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult. The latest figures on the bodies exhumed take the death toll to 133. Paul Mackenzie, the notorious cult leader, is among the 16 suspects accused of operating an armed -- and apparently well-fed -- "enforcer gang" tasked with ensuring that no one broke their fast or left their forest hideout alive, investigators said.&nbsp;

Mackenzie is currently in custody. The search operation in the Shakahola forest in southeastern Kenya was suspended for a few days due to bad weather, with hundreds of people still reported missing.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki visited the forest where workers wearing hazmat suits and masks were digging up graves. Later addressing a press conference, Kindiki said, "We have many more graves in this forest, and therefore it leads us to conclude that this was a highly organised crime."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-who-are-the-two-pastors-facing-court-over-starvation-cult-massacre-588142">Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing trial in court over starvation cult massacre?</a>

While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims, including children, were strangled, beaten, or suffocated, chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor said. And as per court documents on Monday, some of the corpses had their organs removed, with police alleging the suspects were engaged in forced harvesting of body parts, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

"Post-mortem reports have established missing organs in some of the bodies of victims who have been exhumed," chief inspector Martin Munene said in an affidavit filed to a Nairobi court. 
 
"It is believed that trade on human body organs has been well coordinated involving several players," he added.&nbsp;

The chief inspector also pointed out Ezekiel Odero, a high-profile televangelist who was arrested in April in connection with the same case and granted bail last Thursday, had received "huge cash transactions," allegedly from Mackenzie's followers who sold their property at the cult leader's bidding.

Meanwhile, Paul Mackenzie's lawyer George Kariuki said that Kariuki was cooperating with the police. Speaking to Reuters, Kariuki said that Mackenzie wanted the investigation not to be "one-sided" by focusing on him, adding police should keep an open mind to unravel the mess.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Kenyan investigators on Tuesday (May 9) exhumed 21 more bodies as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult. The latest figures on the bodies exhumed take the death toll to 133.

Kenyan investigators on Tuesday (May 9) exhumed 21 more bodies as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult. The latest figures on the bodies exhumed take the death toll to 133. Paul Mackenzie, the notorious cult leader, is among the 16 suspects accused of operating an armed -- and apparently well-fed -- "enforcer gang" tasked with ensuring that no one broke their fast or left their forest hideout alive, investigators said. Mackenzie is currently in custody. The search operation in the Shakahola forest in southeastern Kenya was suspended for a few days due to bad weather, with hundreds of people still reported missing. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki visited the forest where workers wearing hazmat suits and masks were digging up graves. Later addressing a press conference, Kindiki said, "We have many more graves in this forest, and therefore it leads us to conclude that this was a highly organised crime." ALSO READ | Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing trial in court over starvation cult massacre? While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims, including children, were strangled, beaten, or suffocated, chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor said. And as per court documents on Monday, some of the corpses had their organs removed, with police alleging the suspects were engaged in forced harvesting of body parts, the news agency AFP reported. "Post-mortem reports have established missing organs in some of the bodies of victims who have been exhumed," chief inspector Martin Munene said in an affidavit filed to a Nairobi court. "It is believed that trade on human body organs has been well coordinated involving several players," he added. The chief inspector also pointed out Ezekiel Odero, a high-profile televangelist who was arrested in April in connection with the same case and granted bail last Thursday, had received "huge cash transactions," allegedly from Mackenzie's followers who sold their property at the cult leader's bidding. Meanwhile, Paul Mackenzie's lawyer George Kariuki said that Kariuki was cooperating with the police. Speaking to Reuters, Kariuki said that Mackenzie wanted the investigation not to be "one-sided" by focusing on him, adding police should keep an open mind to unravel the mess. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kenya starvation cult massacre: Investigators exhume 21 more bodies, toll rises to 133

Kenyan cult leader and self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who appeared in court on Tuesday, will be tried under terrorism charges for causing the starvation and death of more than 100 people in what has been dubbed the “Shakahola forest massacre”.

The prosecutors said that the accused will also face charges of murder, kidnapping, and cruelty towards children among other crimes, AFP news agency reported.

During the brief hearing, the court in Malindi decided to move the case to the high court in Kenya's second-largest city of Mombasa after the request of the prosecutor.

"There is a court (in Mombasa) that is gazetted to handle cases under the prevention of terrorism act," prosecutor Vivian Kambaga told a magistrate.

Mackenzie, who set up the Good News International Church in 2003, is accused of inciting followers to starve to death "to meet Jesus".

The deeply religious East African country, which has a Christian majority population, was stunned last month after the mass graves were discovered in a forest near the Indian Ocean coastal town of Malindi.

After finding 30 mass graves, the police, acting on a tip-off nabbed the former taxi driver on April 14. A total of 109 people have so far been confirmed dead, most of them children.&nbsp;The first autopsies from Shakahola were carried out on Monday on nine children and one woman.

<h2>Death toll in the Kenyan starvation cult rises to 58</h2>

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The authorities confirmed that their death was caused by starvation, though some victims were asphyxiated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-who-are-the-two-pastors-facing-court-over-starvation-cult-massacre-588142">Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing court over starvation cult massacre?</a>

Apart from Mackenzie, officials are also trying to prosecute Ezekiel Odero, a wealthy and high-profile televangelist, who was arrested in Malindi on Thursday in connection with the same case.

Odero is suspected of murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering.

The prosecution is seeking to detain him for a further 30 days, citing credible information linking the corpses exhumed at Shakahola to the deaths of several "innocent and vulnerable followers" from Odero's New Life Prayer Centre and Church, AFP reported.

Officials claimed that Odero and Mackenzie share a 'history of business investments', including a television station used to spread radicalised messages among the followers.

In the wake of the horrific incidents, Kenyan President William Ruto has vowed to intervene in religious movements in the country home to about 4,000 churches.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Kenyan cult leader and self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who appeared in court on Tuesday, will be tried under terrorism charges for causing the starvation and death of more than 100 people in what has been dubbed the “Shakahola forest massacre”.

Kenyan cult leader and self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who appeared in court on Tuesday, will be tried under terrorism charges for causing the starvation and death of more than 100 people in what has been dubbed the “Shakahola forest massacre”. The prosecutors said that the accused will also face charges of murder, kidnapping, and cruelty towards children among other crimes, AFP news agency reported. During the brief hearing, the court in Malindi decided to move the case to the high court in Kenya's second-largest city of Mombasa after the request of the prosecutor. "There is a court (in Mombasa) that is gazetted to handle cases under the prevention of terrorism act," prosecutor Vivian Kambaga told a magistrate. Mackenzie, who set up the Good News International Church in 2003, is accused of inciting followers to starve to death "to meet Jesus". The deeply religious East African country, which has a Christian majority population, was stunned last month after the mass graves were discovered in a forest near the Indian Ocean coastal town of Malindi. After finding 30 mass graves, the police, acting on a tip-off nabbed the former taxi driver on April 14. A total of 109 people have so far been confirmed dead, most of them children. The first autopsies from Shakahola were carried out on Monday on nine children and one woman. Death toll in the Kenyan starvation cult rises to 58 The authorities confirmed that their death was caused by starvation, though some victims were asphyxiated. Also read | Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing court over starvation cult massacre? Apart from Mackenzie, officials are also trying to prosecute Ezekiel Odero, a wealthy and high-profile televangelist, who was arrested in Malindi on Thursday in connection with the same case. Odero is suspected of murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering. The prosecution is seeking to detain him for a further 30 days, citing credible information linking the corpses exhumed at Shakahola to the deaths of several "innocent and vulnerable followers" from Odero's New Life Prayer Centre and Church, AFP reported. Officials claimed that Odero and Mackenzie share a 'history of business investments', including a television station used to spread radicalised messages among the followers. In the wake of the horrific incidents, Kenyan President William Ruto has vowed to intervene in religious movements in the country home to about 4,000 churches. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Kenyan cult leader who incited followers to starve to death 'to meet Jesus' will face terrorism charges

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