Paul Mackenzie, chief of the Good Information Worldwide Church, was accused of ordering his followers to starve their youngsters and themselves to dying.
The variety of victims of a hunger cult in Kenya’s Shakahola forest has risen to 201 after 22 extra our bodies have been recovered, in keeping with a regional governmental official.
“Our forensic staff was capable of exhume 22 our bodies at present, however we now have not reported any rescue,” Rhodah Onyancha, a regional commissioner, advised journalists on Saturday.
All through this week authorities have been digging up shallow graves scattered via the forest on the lookout for stays and scouring the realm for any survivors as lots of of individuals are nonetheless reported lacking.
Paul Mackenzie, chief of the Good Information Worldwide Church, was accused of ordering his followers to starve their youngsters and themselves to dying so they may go to heaven earlier than the top of the world, which he predicted to be on April 15.
The taxi driver-turned-preacher was denied bail on Wednesday by a Kenyan court docket.
Onyancha stated yet one more suspect had additionally been arrested, bringing the entire variety of these detained over the deaths to 26.
On Friday, 29 our bodies have been unearthed, together with these of 12 youngsters which have been present in one grave.
Kenyan President William Ruto appointed a fee of inquiry into the deaths of greater than 100 individuals believed to have starved themselves to dying, whereas a court docket ordered that the cult chief stay in jail.
The fee of inquiry will look at whether or not administrative or intelligence lapses contributed to the deaths.
Presidential spokesman Hussein Mohamed stated Ruto had additionally appointed a activity pressure to evaluation rules governing spiritual organisations.
Mackenzie has not commented publicly on the accusations towards him nor has he been required to enter a plea to any felony cost. His lawyer George Kariuki advised the press on Tuesday that his consumer may face “doable terrorism costs”.
Mackenzie appeared in court docket within the port metropolis of Mombasa on Friday, the place prosecutors requested a decide to carry him for a further 90 days as their investigation continued.
The decide stated he would ship a ruling subsequent Wednesday on the prosecution’s request and ordered that Mackenzie stay in custody till then.
Mackenzie, who was carrying a black and pink jacket and holding his two-year-old daughter throughout the listening to, advised journalists on the court docket that he and a few of his supporters have been being refused meals in jail.
Prosecutors denied this and his lawyer had advised the press on Tuesday that his consumer was consuming.