Police arrested the wife of pastor Paul Mackenzie in the ongoing investigation into the Kilifi cult that convinced members to starve to death to meet God.
Rhoda Mumbua Maweu was arrested from her hideout in Mtwapa alongside her aunt on Monday night.
Mackenzie and pastor Ezekiel Odero are expected in court on Tuesday, May 2.
Police said Mumbua has been identified as a key figure within the church’s operations hence the move to arrest her.
She is also expected in court.
Mackenzie has been accused of manipulating people through skewed, extreme religious teachings and fear of the unknown in pursuit of salvation, leading to the deaths of many.
He is in police custody for allegedly preaching a dangerous doctrine that encourages his followers to starve themselves to death in order to reach heaven faster.
As part of the investigation, police have been reviewing Mackenzie’s phone records and interviewing individuals connected to the church.
It was during this process that Mumbua’s name came up as a person of interest.
She is the ‘human resource manager’ for Mackenzie’s administration.
So far 110 bodies have been exhumed and the operation is going on in Shakahola forest using technology and aerial surveillance.
Dozens more bodies are believed to be buried in shallow graves therein.
Some 36 people have been rescued from starvation.
Mackenzie, who is in police custody, is being investigated for influencing his followers to starve to death in order to meet their maker.
Police also suspect that some of the victims did not starve to death and may have been killed and then buried on the property.
He has denied wrongdoing but has been refused bail. He insists that he shut down his church in 2019.
The followers say he told them to starve themselves in order to “meet Jesus”.
