IN a significant announcement on Wednesday, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki revealed that the Shakahola forest, the site where mass graves linked to a starvation cult were discovered, will be transformed into a national memorial. This decision comes as the ongoing exhumations unearthed nine more bodies, bringing the death toll to 251.
Speaking about the transformation of the forest into a memorial, Minister Kindiki stated, ‘The government will convert it into a national memorial, a place of remembrance so that Kenyans and the world do not forget what happened here.’ He emphasised the importance of preserving the memory of the horrific events that unfolded in the forest.
Providing an update on the investigation into the cult, Minister Kindiki shared the progress made in holding the cult leader and his collaborators accountable. ‘Our investigations team has assured us that we have a watertight case against [Pastor Paul] Mackenzie and his collaborators who are in custody. We have evidence that is sufficient to prove charges of genocide and crimes against humanity,’ he affirmed.
Since mid-April, the Shakahola forest in Kilifi County has been the site of a chilling discovery, with hundreds of corpses found during investigations into a cult led by Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who heads the Good News International Church in Kenya. Mackenzie stands accused of instructing his followers to starve themselves to death, believing it would lead them to heaven before the end of the world.
The investigations have revealed disturbing details, including the discovery that some victims had missing organs, raising suspicions of human organ trafficking. As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to uncover the full extent of the cult’s activities and bring justice to the victims and their families.
The transformation of Shakahola forest into a national memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the tragedy that unfolded and a testament to the commitment to honour the lives lost. The case against Mackenzie and his collaborators holds the promise of justice for the victims and sends a powerful message that such heinous crimes will not go unpunished in Kenya.
