https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231128/australian-christian-group-denies-its-ties-with-leader-of-kenyan-starvation-cult-reports-say-1063835614.html
Australian Christian Group Denies Its Ties With Leader of Kenyan 'Starvation Cult', Reports Say
Australian Christian Group Denies Its Ties With Leader of Kenyan 'Starvation Cult', Reports Say
Sputnik Africa
In April, a self-proclaimed pastor, Paul Mackenzie, founder of a religious cult, whose followers allegedly practiced starvation to "meet Jesus Christ," was... 28.11.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-11-28T18:14+0100
2023-11-28T18:14+0100
2023-11-28T18:14+0100
kenya
australia
sub-saharan africa
east africa
shakahola forest massacre (kenya starvation cult)
religious cult
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An Australian Christian group denied its ties with the leader of the Kenyan religious cult, over 400 followers of which died from starvation practice, Paul Mackenzie, media said, citing the committee's report.Dave McKay, who with Cherry McKay founded the Australian Christian group the Voice in the Desert, refuted the claims that he had direct contacts with Mackenzie, the outlet said.Earlier, Mackenzie was found subject to Australian religious group's impact by the African country's parliamentary committee.According to the report, the ties between Mackenzie and the McKays were "largely established through virtual links and social media." Mackenzie’s Good News International church also reportedly was given a sermon in 2019 by Dave McKay's "associate."After the discovery of human remains in April in the Shakahola forest of Good News International Over 400 church followers, who allegedly starved themselves to death, Mackenzie was arrested and accused of preaching the cult followers to do so.Following this, the government established an inquiry commission to shed light on these deaths and outlawed five cult churches linked to "the Shakahola massacre."As for the recent progress in the investigation, last week, the commission revealed the named of about 131 children, who perished in the forest.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230718/death-toll-from-starvation-cult-in-kenya-reportedly-exceeds-400-people-1060606060.html
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kenya, australia, east africa, shakahola forest massacre (kenya starvation cult), religious cult
kenya, australia, east africa, shakahola forest massacre (kenya starvation cult), religious cult
Australian Christian Group Denies Its Ties With Leader of Kenyan 'Starvation Cult', Reports Say
In April, a self-proclaimed pastor, Paul Mackenzie, founder of a religious cult, whose followers allegedly practiced starvation to "meet Jesus Christ," was arrested. The tragedy has been dubbed the "Shakahola Massacre" by Kenyan media, as the remains of hundreds of the cult's followers were discovered in the Kenyan Shakahola forest.
An Australian Christian group denied its ties with the leader of the Kenyan religious cult, over 400 followers of which
died from starvation practice, Paul Mackenzie, media said, citing the committee's report.
Dave McKay, who with Cherry McKay founded the Australian Christian group the Voice in the Desert, refuted the claims that he had direct contacts with Mackenzie, the outlet said.
"I was aware of him through what I read in Kenya media reports, and I had second and third-hand information from a visit a member made to his meeting in Kenya in 2019. [...] That was the full extent of our 'links'. We had absolutely no contact with anyone from Mackenzie’s movement between then and when the news broke about the massacre in April of this year," McKay was quoted by the media as saying.
Earlier, Mackenzie was found subject to Australian religious group's impact by the African country's parliamentary committee.
"[Paul Mackenzie] was influenced by Dave Mackay and Sherry Mackay [Dave and Cherry McKay] from Australia, who are founders of a cult movement known as the Voice in the Desert," the document read.
According to the report, the ties between
Mackenzie and the McKays were "largely established through virtual links and social media." Mackenzie’s Good News International church also reportedly was given a sermon in 2019 by Dave McKay's "associate."
"Recently there has been a tragedy in a church in Kenya that we had links to. Over 100 members of the church have starved themselves to death!" the Voice in the Desert group posted on social networks on May 3.
After the discovery of
human remains in April in the Shakahola forest of Good News International Over 400 church followers, who allegedly starved themselves to death, Mackenzie was arrested and accused of preaching the cult followers to do so.
Following this, the government established an inquiry commission to shed light on these deaths and
outlawed five cult churches linked to "the Shakahola massacre."
As for the recent progress in the investigation, last week, the commission revealed the named of about 131 children, who
perished in the forest.
