The number of bodies found in eastern Kenya has climbed to 47 as investigators probe the deaths of members of the Good News International Church, a religious group founded by Pastor Paul McKenzie. Reports from AFP confirm that authorities are intensifying their work across the region, including a major operation near the coastal town of Malindi where the inquiry is focused. The dramatic progression of findings has prompted a surge of official briefings, spotlighting the scale and urgency of the case as investigators trace the network around the church and its leadership while seeking to understand the circumstances that led to such a fatal outcome for so many followers.
Public Kenyan broadcaster KBC reported on April 23 that authorities had uncovered 58 tombs in the Malindi district. Some of these graves are said to contain multiple individuals, underscoring the potential breadth of the tragedy and the complexity of the investigation. The news highlights a chilling dimension of the case: a landscape where mass graves may be connected to a belief system or a planned end-times event promoted by the church. Investigators are examining how these sites were established, who was involved, and what directives may have guided the movements of those inside the group as events unfolded.
Earlier in the investigation, on April 14, police disclosed that four bodies were found inside a wooden dwelling, a residence linked to a group of followers who reportedly believed the world would end imminently. The deaths were attributed to starvation, and the discovery triggered a broader inquiry into the practices, leadership, and daily routines of the congregation. The scene raised questions about coercive control, access to food and resources, and the enforcement of beliefs within the community, prompting authorities to pursue a layered legal and social inquiry that touches on religious freedom, public safety, and the welfare of vulnerable individuals.
Paul Mackenzie is identified as the founder of the church, a movement that took shape roughly two decades ago. Since 2017, Kenyan courts have pursued criminal actions related to the case, and Mackenzie ultimately surrendered to authorities on April 15, 2023, entering a custody framework while investigations continued. The surrender marked a turning point in a prolonged legal saga, as prosecutors assemble evidence to outline charges, motives, and the chain of responsibility. The ongoing process reflects not only a high-stakes legal proceeding but also the broader social and ethical questions raised by the deaths and by the behavior of a religious leader who attracted a substantial following and attracted intense scrutiny from both national authorities and communities concerned about safety and transparency.
In a separate thread of the broader security situation, reports described violent incidents involving Congolese militants and other actors in the region, with casualties including children. The references to such violence situate the Malindi case within a larger context of regional instability and conflict dynamics that heighten the attention paid to any narrative of religious authority, manipulation of followers, and the abuse of power. Authorities emphasize a careful, methodical approach to gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and tracing the pathways of influence that sustained the group over time, while communities seek reassurance that the investigation will uncover the truth and prevent further harm.