Kenya’s cult suspect starves to death in police custody

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Joseph Juma Buyuka, who is regarded as Kenya's controversial cult leader Paul Mackenzie's second-in-command, has died while on a hunger strike in police custody.

The prosecution, led by Yamina Jamii, informed Shanzu Court in southeastern Mombasa city on Wednesday that Buyuka died from complications from a hunger strike and starvation.

“But we will await postmortem as two others have also been taken ill,” Yamina said.

It happened when Mackenzie, who is accused of ordering hundreds of his followers to starve themselves so they could go to heaven before the end of the world, along with his wife Rhoda Maweu and 15 other cult members appeared before the court.

According to the prosecution, Buyuka was among 30 followers who had been refusing to eat or drink water while in police custody.

Amina Saidi, a former follower of the church, told Anadolu on Thursday: “Buyuka was always at Mackenzie's side. He was his second in command and a very powerful figure at GNIM (The Good News International Ministries) church.”

Over 330 corpses have been found in the Shakahola Forest since April during investigations into the cult run by Mackenzie, who leads the Good News International Church.

The investigations have revealed that some victims had their organs missing, which has led to suspicions of trafficking in human organs.

The cult's leader, Paul Mackenzie, who is currently facing legal proceedings, has not issued any statement regarding Buyuka's death.

As of Thursday, a total of 27 autopsies had been performed, according to police reports, revealing that 16 individuals died of starvation.