Four followers of a controversial Kenyan church teacher have been found dead and another dozen in need of urgent hospital treatment after being found in a forest location in eastern Kilfi county.
According to “Mackenzie’s followers say they have been told to starve to avoid apocalyptic damnation”, alleging “he believes he has spiritual prophetic power, further claiming to have seen apparitions of ‘Jesus’.”
The police have received reports of ignorant citizens starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor of Good News International Church.”
According to Kenyan police, the group followed practices taught by the Good News International Church of Pastor Paul Mackenzie, including fasting while “waiting to meet Jesus”.
The authorities said they rescued 11 people – six of them were emaciated and in critical condition.
Police said they are searching for more members of the group following reports that others were still in the forest. They say they also found a grave which they intend to investigate. They also found a mass shallow grave at Shakahola Forest in Langobaya, Malindi.
”The police were unable to conduct any further activity at the mass grave because of the hostile residents in the forest believed to be the suspect’s followers” part of the report read.
When the police visited the area on Thursday evening, April 13, they rescued the victims from his vast farm, but he was not arrested despite being at the crime scene.
The self-styled spiritual leader, who was once a controversial televangelist, has been on the detectives’ radar for allegedly preaching a dangerous doctrine that encourages his followers to starve themselves to death to reach heaven faster.
The pastor is currently out on police bail after he was charged last month over the death of two children whose parents are among his followers.
