Carolyne Odour has told the BBC she desperately fears for the fate of her two young sons who went missing two months ago with their father - a follower of the teachings of a notorious starvation cult leader. Ms Odour says that amid an ongoing investigation into more deaths linked to the cult, she has identified her husband's body at a mortuary in the coastal town of Malindi.
His corpse was found in July in the village of Kwa Binzaro, inland from Malindi and near the remote Shakahola Forest, where more than 400 bodies were discovered in 2023 in one of the worst-ever cases of cult-related mass deaths. Now awaiting the results of DNA tests carried out on over 30 recently unearthed bodies, Ms Odour reminisces a painful memory: 'I felt pain. I barely recognised him. His body was badly decomposing.'
Carolyne suspects her two sons, Daniel and Elijah, traveled with their 45-year-old father to Kwa Binzaro at the end of June. Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie is currently on trial over the so-called 'Shakahola Forest Massacre' and has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. Allegedly, he told his followers they would reach heaven quicker if they stopped eating. Ms Odour's husband started adhering to Mackenzie’s teachings, believing in extreme faith at the cost of education and medical care for their children, resulting in a devastating family rift.
When her husband took their sons away, he claimed he was going to his home village. Ms Odour suspected malintent when she lost contact with him, eventually learning he traveled over 900 km to Kwa Binzaro with the boys. Tragically, a few weeks later, she was informed that a body resembling her husband was in the Malindi mortuary. The police revealed he had vanished following reports of suspicious disappearances related to the cult.
As Kenya's government plans stricter regulations against religious extremism and radicalization, the complex case continues to unfold, leaving Carolyne in agony as she waits for clarity on her sons' fates, haunted by the thought of their absence and longing for their safety.
His corpse was found in July in the village of Kwa Binzaro, inland from Malindi and near the remote Shakahola Forest, where more than 400 bodies were discovered in 2023 in one of the worst-ever cases of cult-related mass deaths. Now awaiting the results of DNA tests carried out on over 30 recently unearthed bodies, Ms Odour reminisces a painful memory: 'I felt pain. I barely recognised him. His body was badly decomposing.'
Carolyne suspects her two sons, Daniel and Elijah, traveled with their 45-year-old father to Kwa Binzaro at the end of June. Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie is currently on trial over the so-called 'Shakahola Forest Massacre' and has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. Allegedly, he told his followers they would reach heaven quicker if they stopped eating. Ms Odour's husband started adhering to Mackenzie’s teachings, believing in extreme faith at the cost of education and medical care for their children, resulting in a devastating family rift.
When her husband took their sons away, he claimed he was going to his home village. Ms Odour suspected malintent when she lost contact with him, eventually learning he traveled over 900 km to Kwa Binzaro with the boys. Tragically, a few weeks later, she was informed that a body resembling her husband was in the Malindi mortuary. The police revealed he had vanished following reports of suspicious disappearances related to the cult.
As Kenya's government plans stricter regulations against religious extremism and radicalization, the complex case continues to unfold, leaving Carolyne in agony as she waits for clarity on her sons' fates, haunted by the thought of their absence and longing for their safety.
