Paul Mackenzie, chief of the Good Information Worldwide Church, was accused of ordering his followers to starve their kids and themselves to loss of life.
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 response to a regional governmental official.
“Our forensic crew was capable of exhume 22 our bodies immediately, however we’ve 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 by way of the forest in search of stays and scouring the world for any survivors as lots of of persons are nonetheless reported lacking.
Paul Mackenzie, chief of the Good Information Worldwide Church, was accused of ordering his followers to starve their kids and themselves to loss of life so they might go to heaven earlier than the tip of the world, which he predicted to be on April 15.
The taxi driver-turned-preacher was denied bail on Wednesday by a Kenyan courtroom.
Onyancha stated another suspect had additionally been arrested, bringing the whole variety of these detained over the deaths to 26.
On Friday, 29 our bodies have been unearthed, together with these of 12 kids which have been present in one grave.
Kenyan President William Ruto appointed a fee of inquiry into the deaths of greater than 100 folks believed to have starved themselves to loss of life, whereas a courtroom 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 drive to evaluation rules governing non secular organisations.
Mackenzie has not commented publicly on the accusations towards him nor has he been required to enter a plea to any prison cost. His lawyer George Kariuki advised the press on Tuesday that his shopper may face “potential terrorism fees”.
Mackenzie appeared in courtroom within the port metropolis of Mombasa on Friday, the place prosecutors requested a choose to carry him for a further 90 days as their investigation continued.
The choose 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 sporting a black and pink jacket and holding his two-year-old daughter through the listening to, advised journalists on the courtroom 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 shopper was consuming.