Kenyan doomsday cult leader to remain in custody

Paul Nthenge Mackenzie is being held to allow police to continue with the exhumation of mass graves in a forest

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A Kenyan magistrate has ordered that Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, the leader of a doomsday cult, remain in custody for a further 30 days.

This is to allow the police to continue their investigation into the deaths of more than 100 of his followers. The founder of Good News International Church is alleged to have encouraged them to starve themselves to death.

State prosecutors in Mombasa had wanted permission to hold Pastor Mackenzie, who was arrested in April, for another three months.

Even though the pastor has not yet been charged, he - and 17 others being held alongside him - would be safer in detention, the magistrate said.

On Tuesday, a further 21 corpses were unearthed in the Shakahola forest, bringing the total of those known to have died to 133.

Hundreds of other people have been reported missing.

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Cult leader

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