Wild Flower
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 20, 2023
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Kiongozi wa dhehebu, Paul Mackenzie anayekabiliwa na mashtaka ya kuhamasisha wafuasi wake zaidi ya 400 kujinyima chakula hadi kufa amekana mashtaka ya mauaji ya bila kukusudia Agosti 12, 2024
Mackenzie alikamatwa Aprili 2023 baada ya miili 429 ikiwemo watoto kufukuliwa katika msitu wa Shakahola ikiwa na dalili ya kufariki kwa njaa na mateso
Pia anakabiliwa na kesi mbili nyingine ikiwemo ya ugaidi iliyoanza Julai na nyingine ya unyanyasaji na ukatili wa watoto, mashtaka ambayo ameyakana
Aidha upande wa mashtaka wamedai kuna watu zaidi ya 400 wataokatoa ushuhuda Agosti 17, 2024
Mackenzie alikamatwa Aprili 2023 baada ya miili 429 ikiwemo watoto kufukuliwa katika msitu wa Shakahola ikiwa na dalili ya kufariki kwa njaa na mateso
Pia anakabiliwa na kesi mbili nyingine ikiwemo ya ugaidi iliyoanza Julai na nyingine ya unyanyasaji na ukatili wa watoto, mashtaka ambayo ameyakana
Aidha upande wa mashtaka wamedai kuna watu zaidi ya 400 wataokatoa ushuhuda Agosti 17, 2024
=============For English Audience==============
Kenya starvation cult leader pleads not guilty
The leader of a Kenyan cult who allegedly encouraged over 400 followers to starve themselves to death has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, in one of the worst ever cases of cult-related mass deaths.Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie appeared in court in the coastal city of Mombasa alongside 94 other suspects on Monday.
Mr Mackenzie was arrested last April after 429 bodies, including children, were dug up from mass graves in Shakahola, a remote forest about two hours' drive west of the town of Malindi. Most of the bodies showed signs of starvation and assault.
"There has never been a manslaughter case like this in Kenya," prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina told AFP.
The prosecution say over 400 witnesses will testify over the next four days.
Mr Yamina said the case was unique in Kenya, and the suspects would be prosecuted under a law relating to suicide pacts.
When the case broke last year Kenyans were shocked and horrified that people could willingly starve themselves to death. It became known as the "Shakahola Forest Massacre".
Mr Mackenzie allegedly told his followers they would get to heaven more quickly if they stopped eating.
SOURCE: BBC
