Four people have died and eleven people have been hospitalized after starving themselves in order to see Jesus, The Standard reported.
On Thursday, police in Nairobi, Kenya received multiple reports about a group of “ignorant citizens who were starving to death in pretext to meet Jesus after being brainwashed by suspect Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor of Good News International Church.” Nthenge allegedly instructed his devout followers to go without food and water to avoid “apocalyptic damnation” and be visited by Jesus Christ himself.
After searching Shakahola village in the Magarini Constituency, 15 people were rescued. Four of those found tragically died as they were transported to a nearby hospital. The remaining 11, including two children, are in critical conditions. After announcing Nthenge’s arrest, officials say they are continuing to search for more victims.
Last month, Nthenge was arrested for the deaths of two babies. The pastor is accused of brainwashing two parents into killing their children in order to become “heroes” in the eyes of God. After their murders, Nthenge buried them in a shallow grave. He was later released on a Kenyan SH1000,000 bond ($742).