Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Politics
Fathima Azmiya Badurdeen, Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences, Technical University of Mombasa

Kenya cult deaths: a new era in the battle against religious extremism

Worshippers gather at the New Life Prayer Centre and Church. The head of the Church was recently arrested. Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images

More than a hundred people in Kenya – among them children – have been found dead close to a small village in the south-east of the country. Most of the deceased were reportedly followers of pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie. While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims were strangled, beaten or suffocated, according to the chief government pathologist.

Fathima Azmiya Badurdeen, who has studied the drivers of religious extremism, particularly among violent extremist groups in the east African region, talks to The Conversation Africa’s Julius Maina about the cults and religious extremism challenges in Kenya where freedom of religion or belief is protected by the constitution.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.