“Starve To Meet Jesus” Cult’s Death Toll Rises To 73

The Associated Press reports:

Kenyan President William Ruto said Monday that the starvation deaths of dozens of followers of a pastor in the south of the country is akin to terrorism. He said the pastor, Paul Makenzi, who is in police custody belongs to jail and not to any religion. “Mr. Makenzi … pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal,” Ruto said.

Makenzi was arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus. A group of emaciated people were rescued alive, but some of those later died. Authorities then turned their attention to dozens of apparent shallow graves on Makenzi’s land. The total death toll now stands at 73, with 39 bodies exhumed over the weekend.

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Shakahola cult probe; 26 bodies exhumed so far from six graves today, tally hits 73 in day four of operation, police say pic.twitter.com/EQz7wpKNoa

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 24, 2023