Occult investigations arose in Kenya a few days ago when word about a Kenyan Pastor, Paul Makenzi, leading his followers to starve themselves in order to meet Jesus, spread.
Apparently, he had told his followers to sell their belongings and follow him into a forest where they would starve themselves or rather embark on a dry fast with the aim of meeting Jesus.
The death toll has increased from 20 to 40 to 50 and now close to 70 since the incident became public knowledge.
Bodies are repeatedly being dug up from shallow graves in the forest they had gone into. Malindi sub-county police chief John Kemboi said that more shallow graves have yet to be dug up on the land belonging to Pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested on April 14 over links to cultism.
At least four people died after they and others were discovered starving at the Good News International Church last week.
Investigations started after members of the public tipped off the police with information which led to a raid on the pastor’s property in Malindi.
There, they found 15 emaciated people, including the four who later died. The followers said they were starving on the pastor’s stern instructions to “meet Jesus.”
The police were informed about the dozens of shallow graves spread across Makenzi’s farm and digging started on Friday.
Pastor Makenzi was detained and has proceeded to go on a hunger strike for the past four days while in police custody.
He has since been released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700).
He has not only been linked to one but two deaths of children, one in 2019 and the other in March 2023.
He however happens to get released on bonds each time although both cases are still proceeding through the courts.