Aasai

A shocking revelation has emerged about the Kwa Bi Nzaro sect in Kilifi County where followers have been fasting to death, claiming that it is the way to meet God. For the first time, detailed information about the main suspect, preacher Sharlyne Anindo Temba, has been released by government investigators.

 Anindo Temba, who hails from Emuhaya, Vihiga County, is the suspected leader of the dangerous sect that has been linked to the deaths of dozens of people so far. So far, 34 bodies have been found in Kwa Bi Nzaro village, Chakama forest, Kilifi. More than 100 body parts have also been found. Anindo, 30, has two houses in Kaoeni. Believers from different parts of Kenya were received in the houses before being trained in the ways of the complex sect. Kaoeni is not far from Furunzi, Malindi, which is home to the preacher facing the difficult case of Shakaholas murder, Paul Mackenzie. 

The sect, the investigation revealed, may be related to the Shakahola sect where more than 400 believers perished due to the extremist teachings spread by Mackenzie in 2023. Investigators have described how the activities of the Kwa Bi Nzaro sect were carried out secretly in the village, on the outskirts of Malindi town without anyone suspecting or recognizing anything. They were persuaded on religious grounds to starve, take a secret oath and finally be led to the path of death. 

The investigation, likewise, revealed that after Bi Temba, who lives in Furunzi, received the believers and prepared them, she would transport them to Kwa Bi Nzaro. Initially, she had rented one house but added another due to the increasing number of believers who wanted to be guided to God. At Kwa Bi Nzaros house where these evils took place, there is a house of collapsed mud, and another of tin that has three rooms. This includes a preparation room and two prayer rooms. The last room is the most mysterious because the believers fasted until they died lying there on the floor. After death, they were wrapped in sheets and their bodies were thrown away. 

Preparations for death began with giving them little food, reducing the amount of food, giving them water and the final step was leaving them for the angels to come and take their souls after they were overwhelmed by hunger. One of the detectives investigating the activities of the sect revealed that Mrs. Temba used to visit Furunzi to receive new believers and then direct them to Mrs. Nzaro where they were supposed to start fasting. A bodaboda operator was also there to transport the new believers - an activity that was carried out in secret.

 In the houses, detectives found several documents including a receipt for buying a motorcycle, an agreement to buy five acres of land for Sh20,000 where Sh10,000 had already been paid. This purchase links Mrs. Temba to the land where the houses at Mrs. Nzaro are located. Also the identity of Lilian Akinyi, wife of Jarius Otieno,who are a couple from Siaya, were found. The couples six children are still missing and the two are among the suspects still being held by the police. Mr Jairus, who had a falling out with the sects leadership, was excommunicated after he refused to bury the bodies of those who fasted until death and even his wife raised questions about the sects beliefs, claiming that her youngest child died there.

 After being excommunicated, Jarius was lucky enough to ask for a phone call from one of the villagers and shared the news about what was going on inside the sect with security officials, and an investigation began. “Neighbors would not have noticed anything because Ms. Temba’s activities were secret and visitors appeared to be just ordinary people. “She would occasionally receive family members and they appeared to be just her friends who came to visit her,” said another informant. Currently, various security units are continuing their investigations to find out more about what was going on within the cult. 

The detectives have identified a man who was frequently visiting Ms. Temba and is suspected of having links with Mackenzie. Last week, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja ordered that investigations continue in the entire Chakama ranch where it is suspected that the cult has been perpetrating the deaths of many believers.