Kenyans were thrown into utter shock as reports emerged of a deathly cult that had been thriving in Malindi for years. Pastor Paul Mackenzie, a former taxi driver who reportedly got saved and started a church where faithfuls were promised a meeting with Jesus if they fasted.
It turned out that tens of men, women and children have now perished as a result of fulfilling the requirement. The Directorate of Criminal Investigation, who have been unearthing one mass grave after another has said the toll now stands at seventy three(73) following the recent unearthing of five more bodies believed to be of the same family in a shallow grave inside the compound.
The cabinet secretary for Interior and Coordination of National government Professor Kithure Kindiki on Sunday called for more police officers to be deployed in what has now turned out to be a rescue operation as the plot keeps getting bigger with some victims reportedly even refusing to be rescued insisting on starving themselves to death in order to ‘meet the Jesus Christ.’
Prof. Kindiki posted thus on twitter: “The unfolding Shakahola Forest Massacre is the clearest abuse of the constitutionally enshrined human right to freedom of worship. Prima facie, large- scale crimes under Kenyan law as well as international law have been committed.
While the State remains respectful of religious freedom, this horrendous blight on our consience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrator(s) of the atrocity on so many innocent souls, but tighter regulation (including self- regulation) of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue going forward.
While the Multi-agency security team on site is doing their best to unearth the truth and prevent further loss of lives, I have directed the Regional Commissioner for Coast Region together with the Regional Security Team to reinforce the team in Malindi ahead of my visit on Tuesday. Enough security officers have been deployed and the entire 800 acre forest is sealed off and declared a scene of crime.”
As the police continue unravelling the full scale of pastor Mackenzie’s grim operations, new details are still emerging and scores of people, more than a hundred have been reported missing.
An elderly lady who was found in one of the hideouts while in bad shape insisted on continue with her fast as detectives tried to rescue her giving her a mixture of water and sugar to replenish her lost energy.
This forced the detectives to bundle her into a stand-by ambulance and rushed to the hospital. Pastor Mckenzie was earlier on apprehended by the police but released later on a Ksh 10000 bail.
“Terrorist”
Even the President, William Ruto did not mince his words in condemnation of the cult pastor calling him a terrorist for good measure. “”What is being witnessed in Shakahola is akin to terrorism. Mackenzie, who acts as a pastor, is in fact, a terrible criminal.
Terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. People like Mackenzie are using religion to do the exact same thing. People like Paul Mackenzie and any other terrorists do not belong to any religion. They belong in prison.”
More than nine have so far been rescued as police keep escalating rescue operations even as more grim details are being uncovered. It is also reported that one of Mckenzie’s key ally has been nabbed while he was also reportedly on hunger strike.
The Azimio coalition has called for the resignation of police boss Mr. Koome saying it was a failure of the detectives that such a horrendous crime was happening right under the eyes of law enforcement.
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