Kenyan starvation cult: Pastor to face terrorism charges

Malindi: After over 100 people were found dead and buried in a Kenyan forest due to the rituals of a starvation cult, the pastor will now face terrorism charges. Prosecutors are calling the case the 'Shakahola forest massacre' as the mass grave was found in the forest near the town of Malindi.

Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie set up the Good News International Church in 2003. After the graves were discovered last month, he is being accused of inciting his followers to starve to death in order to "meet Jesus". He is also accused of murder, kidnapping, and cruelty towards children among other crimes.

So far, 109 people have been confirmed dead and most of them are children. The first set of autopsies was carried out on Monday on nine children and one woman. The procedure confirmed the cause of death as starvation. However, some victims were asphyxiated.

When the pastor appeared in the courtroom, it was packed with relatives of the victims. Mackenzie was brought in by six police officers. Eight other defendants were also brought in. After a brief hearing, the case was moved to the high court in Mombasa, Kenya's second-largest city, reported AFP.

Prosecutor Vivian Kambag asked the magistrate to move the court to a higher court and said there is a court (in Mombasa) that is gazetted to handle cases under the prevention of terrorism act.

A wealthy and high-profile televangelist, Ezekiel Odero, is also expected at the high court in connection with the same case. He is suspected of murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud, and money laundering. The prosecution has linked him to the victims at Shakahola and said several "innocent and vulnerable followers" are from Odero's New Life Prayer Centre and Church.