Kenya has announced plans to convert a large coastal forest into a national memorial site to commemorate the victims of a doomsday cult massacre.
The forest, known as Shakahola, has been the site of a shocking discovery, with over 250 bodies linked to the cult unearthed from mass graves.
The cult leader, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, is facing charges for his role in driving his followers to their deaths by preaching that starvation was the path to God.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki stated that the forest, which witnessed grave crimes, will be transformed into a memorial site to ensure that the tragic events are not forgotten.
The exhumation process, now in its third phase, has revealed nine additional bodies, bringing the death toll to 251. Investigations have expanded beyond Shakahola forest to a ranch spanning over 14,980 hectares.
Once the exhumation process is complete, a commemoration service will be held, bringing together believers from all faiths and national leaders.
Autopsies conducted by the government revealed that while starvation was the primary cause of death, some victims, including children, had also been strangled, beaten, or suffocated.
The cult leader, Mackenzie, a former taxi driver turned preacher, has not entered a plea yet, as the prosecution seeks further time to investigate.
The arrest of Mackenzie and 35 others have raised questions about how he managed to evade law enforcement despite a history of extremism and previous legal cases.
The severity of the situation prompted President William Ruto to establish a commission of inquiry into the deaths and a task force to review regulations governing religious bodies.
However, attempts to regulate religion in Kenya, a predominantly Christian country, have faced strong opposition in the past due to concerns about potential encroachment on the constitutional separation of church and state.
The conversion of Shakahola forest into a national memorial aims to honor the victims, raise awareness about the tragedy, and encourage a reflection on the need for appropriate religious regulation to prevent such horrific incidents in the future.
