The group was brainwashed by the leader of the Good News International Church
Four people suspected of being part of a controversial cult have been found dead and nearly a dozen others hospitalized in Kenya’s coastal Kilifi county after being ordered by their preacher to starve themselves to “meet Jesus” met.
According to newsweek, Four worshipers of the Good News International Church died after going without food and water for several days in Shakhola village of Magrini constituency. According to police, the group was found in a forest where they had been living for several days after a local preacher told them to fast while ‘waiting to meet Jesus’.
Police reached the forest after receiving information about the alleged prayer session. They found 15 people participating in the fasting exercise, but only 11 reached the hospital alive.
Police have said that the group was brainwashed by the leader of the Good News International Church, Mackenzie Nthang, also known as Paul Mackenzie Nthang. His followers said that he has been asked to fast to avoid the ‘apocalypse’. He also advised his followers to starve themselves in order to gain an early entry into heaven and meet Jesus.
Authorities also suspect that there is a mass grave in the forest where other cult members are buried.
“Ignorant citizens are starving to death on the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspicious man named Paul Mackenzie Enthenge, a pastor of the Good News International Church. Police were unable to do any further activity at the mass grave as hostile residents in the forest were believed to be followers of the suspect” read the police report.
The pastor is currently out on police bail as he was accused last month in the deaths of two children whose parents are among his followers. Natheng allegedly told the parents that this would make them ‘heroes’, after which they buried the two children in a shallow grave, according to Tuko News.
According to 2021 Report on International Religious FreedomThe dominant religion in Kenya is Christianity and in 2019, about 85.5% of the population practiced the religion.