Kenyan leader terms cult deaths as terrorism as 47 bodies recovered

In a chilling turn of events, Kenyan President William Ruto has branded the deaths linked to a religious cult in Shakahola, Kilifi County, as an act of terrorism. Authorities have so far exhumed 47 bodies from shallow mass graves, many of them malnourished followers who reportedly died after being instructed by their pastor to fast in order to meet Jesus. Xinhua News Ruto described the church’s leader, Paul Makenzie Nthenge, as a dangerous criminal hiding behind a religious facade and said he had ordered security agencies to root out the full extent of the criminality. Xinhua News
The case first came to light when the police rescued emaciated members of the group, prompting investigations that uncovered a grim pattern of cultism in Shakahola forest. Xinhua News Reports indicate that the pastor had originally surrendered to police and was granted bail, but was later rearrested after multiple deaths were linked directly to his teachings. Xinhua News Red Cross teams, meanwhile, have established tracing and counselling desks at Malindi Sub-County Hospital, as hundreds of people have gone missing—with over 112 reported missing by relatives. Xinhua News
The president’s hard-hitting remarks have sent shockwaves through the country, as many Kenyans struggle to comprehend how a religious institution could be implicated in such mass death. Xinhua News Civil society leaders and human rights advocates are calling for thorough psychological support for survivors, as well as more robust regulation of religious institutions to prevent such tragedies. The scale of the tragedy has fuelled a broader debate about faith, extremism, and the dangers of blind obedience.
Looking ahead, the government says it will deepen investigations, bring more perpetrators to justice, and possibly reform church registration and oversight laws. Ruto’s administration has pledged not only to prosecute those responsible, but also to build systems that prevent vulnerable members of society from falling prey to extremist religious groups in the future.