The work of a taxi driver. Le Monde reveals new details about Kenyan pastor's 'massacre'

"Die of hunger to meet Jesus Christ." It appeared to be the magic phrase that caused one of the major humanitarian disasters of a religious nature after dozens of people starved to death in Kenya after following the guidance of a local Christian pastor, according to a report by the French newspaper Le Monde.

The newspaper confirmed that Kenyan authorities revealed on Thursday that the number of victims reached 226 dead after 15 new bodies were found in the Shakahola forest in southeastern Kenya, and police said that the bodies belonged to the victims of the sect Paul McKenzie, a former taxi driver who established his own church and declared himself a pastor.

Paul McKenzie, accused of asking his followers to starve to death to meet Jesus (Reuters)

After the disaster erupted, McKenzie turned himself in to the police, while the authorities closed 20 bank accounts in his name.

Police said they had found victims who are still alive and rushed them to hospital to receive the necessary treatments, where their testimonies are expected to contribute to deciphering the mysteries of the humanitarian catastrophe, which erupted at the end of last month and was described as a massacre.

Strangulation and trade organs

Le Monde quoted medical sources as confirming that among the victims were children who were beaten and strangled, highlighting that autopsies - which are still ongoing - proved that 112 of the first bodies discovered died of starvation.

Moreover, the newspaper pointed out that the doctors supervising the autopsy confirmed the existence of bodies stolen from organs, prompting the judicial organs in Kenya to talk about the existence of systematic human organ trafficking involving what it called "active elements".

Le Monde said the disaster opened the debate on regulating the work of Christian religious institutions in Kenya, where the country has about 4,<> churches, while Kenyan President William Ruto initiated the establishment of a working group to oversee the preparation of a legal framework to regulate the work of these institutions and control the mechanisms of their operation.