The recent deaths of 58 followers of a Kenyan cult, the Good News International Church, have sparked a nationwide debate on security and legislative loopholes against such organizations. The church’s leader, Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, has been accused of leading his followers to death and is currently in police custody. Kenyan President William Ruto has promised to take action against “terrorist” cults that “use religion” to promote their heinous acts. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the situation and what led to the deaths of these cult members.
Mass Graves Discovered in Shakahola Forest
The deaths of 58 followers of the Good News International Church have shocked the Kenyan nation. The victims were found in mass graves in the Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi, where the church’s followers had been gathering. Search operations are still underway, and investigators have already exhumed dozens of bodies. No details are available on the condition of the bodies or how long they were in the mass graves.
Cult Leader Advocated Fasting to “Meet Jesus”
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the leader of the Good News International Church, has been accused of leading his followers to death by advocating fasting to “meet Jesus.” The cult members were found in a state of extreme emaciation, and many had died on the way to the hospital. Nthenge surrendered to the police and has been in custody since 14 April.
President Ruto Vows to Take Action
Speaking at a graduation ceremony for prison officers in central Kenya, President William Ruto promised action against “terrorist” cults that “use religion” to promote their heinous acts. He likened what happened in the Shakahola forest to terrorism and called on the responsible agencies to get to the bottom of the activities of religions and people who want to use religion to advance a shady and unacceptable ideology.
Security Breaches and Calls for More Action
The discovery of these mass graves raises many questions about the attitude of the authorities, who had known about this “pastor” for several years. Hussein Khalid, a member of the Haki Africa organization, had warned about the actions of the Good News International Church and called for more security forces to “go inside (the forest) and rescue these victims who are fasting to death.”
The deaths of 58 followers of the Good News International Church have shocked the Kenyan nation and sparked a debate on security and legislative loopholes against such organizations. Cults that use religion to advance their agenda have no place in society, and it is up to the authorities to take swift action to prevent such tragedies from happening again.