In what is being described as one of the deadliest cult-related massacres in history, the remains of over 430 victims have been discovered at the Good News International Church located in a remote forest near Malindi, a Kenyan coastal town. Autopsies conducted on more than 100 bodies revealed horrifying causes of death, including starvation, strangulation, suffocation, and blunt force injuries.

The shocking incident, which took place seventeen months ago, continues to haunt the local community, despite repeated warnings about the church's leader. The police raid exposed the disturbing depths of manipulation and control within the religious group.

Shukran Karisa Mangi, a gravedigger, believes that there may still be more mass graves awaiting discovery, given the scale of the tragedy. The Kenya Red Cross reports that at least 600 people remain missing, adding to the grim toll of this horrific event.

The leader of the Good News church, Paul Mackenzie, an evangelical preacher, stands accused of instructing his followers to starve to death in order to attain a supposed meeting with Jesus. Currently, Mackenzie has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the murders of 191 children, multiple counts of manslaughter, and other crimes. If convicted, he could face a lifetime behind bars.

The case has shed light on the alarming power wielded by some evangelists, who manage to sway public opinion and undermine government authority while engaging in illegal activities or endangering the lives of desperate followers seeking miracles and healing.

Thomas Kakala, a self-described bishop with the Jesus Cares Ministry International based in Malindi, warns that it is not only Mackenzie who exploits vulnerable individuals in the name of religion. Kakala cites similar questionable pastors he has encountered in the capital city of Nairobi, whose congregations are seemingly unaffected by their dubious practices.

Kakala reveals his own failed attempts to discredit Mackenzie in the past. When he publicly challenged the charismatic preacher, Mackenzie retaliated by using his TV station to label Kakala as an enemy, leading to threats and intimidation.

Mackenzie's rise to prominence traces back to his humble beginnings as a street vendor and cab driver. In the late 1990s, he apprenticed with a preacher in Malindi before establishing his own church in 2003. Through purported miracles, exorcisms, and a seemingly generous nature, Mackenzie amassed a following that included teachers and police officers, giving him national recognition.

Complaints against Mackenzie initially stemmed from his opposition to formal education and vaccination. In 2019, he was briefly detained for opposing the government's efforts to assign national identification numbers, deeming them as satanic. Later that year, he closed his Malindi church and relocated his congregation to a leased 800-acre forest in Shakahola, where strict rules and isolation became the norm.

Survivors recount that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mackenzie's apocalyptic beliefs intensified, resulting in harsher fasting measures. Witnesses claim that parents were even prohibited from feeding their own children, as Mackenzie envisioned the end times approaching.

Kenya, like much of East Africa, has a predominantly Christian population. While Anglican and Catholic roots remain strong, the influence of evangelical Christianity has been steadily growing since the 1980s, with pastors emulating successful American televangelists by investing in media platforms and advertising.

Adding to the distressing revelations surrounding the case, it has become evident that many of Africa's evangelical churches operate as independent entities without proper accountability or oversight. Pastors often derive their authority from perceived miracles and prophecies, leading to a sense of absolute power, exemplified by figures like Mackenzie.

As investigations continue, six detectives have been suspended for neglecting repeated warnings regarding Mackenzie's illegal activities. The aftermath of this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger regulatory measures to ensure the safety and well-being of followers within religious organizations.

The scars of this deadly cult massacre will undoubtedly linger in the hearts and minds of those affected, prompting soul-searching within the nation and raising questions about the unchecked influence some religious leaders wield over vulnerable communities.