CS Kindiki condemns Shakahola massacre, calls for tougher regulations on places of worship

He said this while condemning the Shakahola Forest Massacre, which has resulted in the discovery of 39 bodies and counting in the 800-acre plot.

"The unfolding Shakahola Forest Massacre is the clearest abuse of the constitutionally enshrined human right to freedom of worship. Prima facie, large- scale crimes under Kenyan law as well as international law have been committed," he said in a statement on Sunday.

"While the State remains respectful of religious freedom, this horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrator(s) of the atrocity on so many innocent souls, but tighter regulation (including self-regulation) of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue going forward."

The Interior CS also ordered a reinforcement of police troops in the Shakahola area to assist with the ongoing investigation ahead of his visit on Tuesday.

The investigation was prompted after a few followers of the cult-like religion were rescued by officers from the Malindi police station, and later family members of other missing victims gathered at the police station in the hopes of finding their kin.

The main suspect is the church's preacher, Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, who allegedly duped worshippers into fasting "so that they can see God," a ritual that resulted in the deaths of many worshippers.

Nthenge is no stranger to controversy; he was arrested last month for causing the deaths of two children due to starvation.

Justice Olga Onalo of the Malindi High Court granted the pastor Ksh.10,000 bail pending investigations.

However, he has yet to face charges because the government pathologist and DCI officers have yet to exhume all the bodies.