https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230506/kenyan-president-forms-govt-commission-to-investigate-cult-deaths-1059073688.html
Kenyan President Forms Gov't Commission to Investigate Cult Deaths
Kenyan President Forms Gov't Commission to Investigate Cult Deaths
Sputnik Africa
William Ruto has earlier vowed to crack down on "unacceptable" religious movements after police discovered bodies suspected of belonging to a religious cult whose members starved themselves to death 'to meet Jesus'.
2023-05-06T11:29+0200
2023-05-06T11:29+0200
2023-05-06T11:30+0200
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Kenya's President William Ruto appointed a commission of inquiry into the deaths of more than 100 people in what is referred to as the Shakahola forest massacre, according to an act of the president published by the National Council for Law Reporting.The president's instruction states that taking into account "the unprecedented nature of the murders", their scale, which "shook the consciousness of the nation," it is required to establish a framework to document the circumstances of the tragedy. One of the tasks of the appointed commission is to clarify the circumstances that caused the tragedy, identify the persons and organizations most responsible for it, and recommend legal and administrative reforms to prevent similar situations of "gross violations of rights" by religious extremist organizations and cults.According to Kenyan officials, the deceased were members of the Good News International Church, headed by Paul Mackenzie. Mackenzie allegedly prophesied the end of the world on April 15 and gave his followers the command to commit suicide in order to be the first to enter paradise.On May 5, the self-proclaimed "pastor" accused of starving his followers to death appeared in court in the port city of Mombasa, where prosecutors asked a judge to hold him for an additional 90 days as their investigation continues.Earlier, on May 1, Kenyan authorities announced the beginning of autopsies on the bodies of victims of the cult. According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the cult followers may not have died of starvation, so the other causes of death can't be ruled out. He added that children make up the majority of deaths, followed by women.According to the latest data, the death toll in the Kenyan cult, whose members starved themselves to death after being convinced they would meet Jesus, has reached 111 people. The local Red Cross has raised concerns that the number of dead could rise further, as over 300 people in the area have been reported missing.
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kenya cult update, the death toll of kenya cult, how will kenya's government tackle cults, shakahola forest
kenya cult update, the death toll of kenya cult, how will kenya's government tackle cults, shakahola forest
Kenyan President Forms Gov't Commission to Investigate Cult Deaths
11:29 06.05.2023 (Updated: 11:30 06.05.2023) William Ruto earlier vowed to crack down on "unacceptable" religious movements after police discovered dozens of bodies suspected of belonging to a cult whose members starved themselves to death after being convinced they would meet Jesus.
Kenya's President William Ruto appointed a commission of inquiry into the deaths of more than 100 people in what is referred to as the Shakahola forest massacre, according to an act of the president published by the
National Council for Law Reporting.The president's instruction states that
taking into account "the unprecedented nature of the murders", their scale, which "shook the consciousness of the nation," it is required to establish a framework to document the circumstances of the tragedy.
One of the tasks of the appointed commission is to clarify the circumstances that caused the tragedy, identify the persons and organizations most responsible for it, and recommend legal and administrative reforms to prevent similar situations of "gross violations of rights" by religious extremist organizations and cults.
"The comission of inquiry shall prepare and submit a report and its recommendations to the president within six months," the act reads.
According to Kenyan officials, the deceased
were members of the Good News International Church, headed by Paul Mackenzie. Mackenzie allegedly prophesied the end of the world on April 15 and gave his followers the command to commit suicide in order to be the first to enter paradise.
On May 5, the self-proclaimed "pastor" accused of starving his followers to death appeared in court in the port city of Mombasa, where prosecutors asked a judge to hold him for an additional 90 days as their investigation continues.
Earlier, on May 1, Kenyan authorities
announced the beginning of autopsies on the bodies of victims of the cult. According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the cult followers may not have died of starvation, so the other causes of death can't be ruled out. He added that children
make up the majority of deaths, followed by women.
According to the latest data, the death toll in the Kenyan cult, whose members starved themselves to death after being convinced they would meet Jesus, has reached 111 people. The local Red Cross has raised concerns that the number of dead could rise further, as over 300 people in the area have been reported missing.
