58 bodies discovered during cult investigation of Kenyan pastor who allegedly told followers to fast to death in order to "meet Jesus"
CBSFeb 11, 2023
The Facts
Kenyan police on Monday recovered 73 bodies, mostly from mass graves in an eastern Kenya forest, as the death toll of alleged followers of a Christian cult — who believed they would go to heaven if they starved themselves — continues to rise.
The final count could be even higher as the Red Cross has stated that 112 members of the Good News International Church have been reported missing. Police have found 29 survivors, some of them seemingly unwilling to be rescued.
This comes as an 800-acre woodland area in the Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi has been combed since last week after receiving warnings from local people and rights activists about the cult's activities.
The Spin
Narrative A
Kenyan authorities turned a blind eye to the warning signs surrounding Paul Mackenzie's death cult, which led to the deaths of so many people. Many bodies continue to be discovered daily, and rights groups alerted police to his radical teachings for years to no avail. We must continue to ask questions about how much authorities knew about this deadly cult before they started to investigate.
Narrative B
Paul Mackenzie is a terrorist, and Kenyan authorities are doing all they can to make sure his death cult is stopped and justice is served. Police are working together to rescue as many victims as possible and are fully committed to helping those deceived by this horrific group.
