According to a court document filed by police investigating cult deaths in Kenya, autopsies revealed that some organs were missing from bodies exhumed from shallow graves.
“Post-mortem reports have established missing organs in some of the bodies of victims who have been exhumed,” said chief inspector Martin Munene in an affidavit submitted to a Nairobi court.
“It is believed that trade in human body organs has been well coordinated involving several players,” it said.
However, in his final report on Friday, chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor had previously ruled out organ harvesting following autopsies on 112 bodies.
“On the issue of missing body parts theory, I think investigations are still ongoing,” Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said on Tuesday. Experts advise me not to interfere with the investigations…We’re looking into a theory.”
According to the pathologist, the majority of the victims, including children, died of starvation, but some were strangled, beaten, or suffocated.
Pastor Paul Mackenzie, the main suspect in the case, is accused of encouraging his followers to fast to death in order to enter heaven. He has previously denied compelling them to fast.
A new round of exhumations in the 800-acre forest in coastal Kilifi county resumed on Tuesday, under the supervision of the interior minister.
According to the Kenyan Red Cross, 360 people have been reported missing, while authorities say at least 60 others have been rescued alive.
