Four people dead after fasting to "meet Jesus", found in a Kenyan forest
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Nairobi: Four people were found dead in a forest in Kenya after they allegedly followed orders from a preacher to fast to "meet Jesus". A dozen from the controversial cult were hospitalised.
When the police arrived after getting a tip-off about a prayer session, they found 15 people participating. They were all taken to the hospital but only 11 arrived alive. They belong to Good News International Church. They were fasting without food and water for days at the Shakahola village in Magarini Constituency, reported Newsweek.
Police said that the group was brainwashed by Makenzie Nthenge aka Paul Makenzie Nthenge. Followers of the church said that they were told to fast to avoid "apocalyptic damnation" and "to enter heaven more quickly." Authorities suspect that there is a mass grave where other cult members are buried. Police could not conduct a search due to hostile residents.
According to a report in TUKO News, the preacher is also currently out on bail after being arrested over the death of two children. The parents are his followers and Nthenge allegedly told parents that the death of children will make them "heroes". The kids were buried in a shallow grave.
Christianity is the predominant religion in Kenya with around 85.5% of the population following the religion.