"'You Must Starve to Go to Heaven' Cult Mass Starvation... Human Rights Groups Warn of Possible Multiple Deaths"

Fasting from One Week to Three Months
Rescued Surviving Believers Still Insist on Fasting

Kenyan police investigating the mass death of four cult members have uncovered a total of 47 bodies at a mass burial site. It is believed that the followers starved themselves to death under the cult leader's brainwashing that dying of starvation would lead them to heaven.

According to AFP on the 23rd (local time), Kenyan police announced that they had discovered an additional 26 bodies near Shakahola Forest, close to the eastern port city of Malindi, Kenya. Combined with the 21 bodies unearthed the previous day, the total number of confirmed bodies now stands at 47.

On the 23rd (local time), according to Reuters and AFP, the Kenyan police announced that they have uncovered an additional 26 bodies in the Shakahola Forest near the eastern port city of Malindi, Kenya. Combined with the 21 bodies excavated by the police the previous day, the total number of confirmed bodies so far reaches 47.
[Photo by Reuters]

Reports indicate that local police, together with forensic experts, have cordoned off the 8,000-acre (approximately 3.237 million square meters) Shakahola Forest and are continuing excavation efforts. In addition to searching for bodies, they are also compiling a list of surviving church members.

Earlier, on the 15th, police arrested Pastor Mackenzie Nteng’e, leader of the Good News International Church, on charges of urging followers to "starve themselves to meet Jesus," which resulted in the deaths of four people. They also rescued 15 followers and transported them to a hospital.

Investigations revealed that the 15 followers had been hiding in Shakahola Forest near the church, fasting and praying for periods ranging from one week to three months in order to meet Jesus. Police reported that four of them died before arriving at the hospital.

Notably, when the first body was discovered last week in Shakahola Forest, owned by the Good News International Church, police launched a large-scale excavation operation.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki declared the Shakahola Forest area a "crime scene" and criticized the abuse of constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion.

The human rights organization Haki Africa, which reported the mass starvation incident at the Good News International Church to the police, stated, "The rescued survivors are still insisting on fasting and remain hidden in Shakahola Forest," warning that "the death toll could rise as time passes."

The human rights group requested the government to deploy military forces to accelerate the search operation, but the Kenyan government responded that "sufficient police forces are currently deployed to search Shakahola Forest and control the site."

Meanwhile, Pastor Nteng’e had previously confessed last month to starving two children to death and was arrested and prosecuted but was released on bail after paying 100,000 shillings (approximately 970,000 KRW).

Police reported that Pastor Nteng’e, who is scheduled for a court hearing next month, is currently in custody and is refusing water and food, engaging in prayer and fasting as a form of hunger strike.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.