Kenyan police have arrested a pastor, Makenzie Nthenge, in connection with the deaths of four of his followers, whom he allegedly instructed to starve in order to “meet Jesus.”
On Friday, April 14, police raided the Shakahola forest near Malindi after receiving reports of “ignorant citizens starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, pastor of Good News International Church.”
During the raid, four members were discovered dead, while eleven others were taken to the hospital. Three of the patients are said to be in critical condition. According to the report, seven men and four women aged 17 to 49 were taken to the hospital.
“The pastor is under arrest after he surrendered because he knew we were looking for him,” said Charles Kamau, criminal investigations chief of Malindi sub-county.
Kamau said the pastor is in custody ahead of a court appearance scheduled for Monday, April 17
Investigators are expected to continue their search in the Shakahola forest on Saturday amid reports of a possible mass grave where other followers could have been buried.
“It is further suspected that there are many victims in the forest land believed to belong to the suspect,” the police report said.
Local media reports that Nthenge was arrested and charged last month after two children starved to death in the custody of their parents. He was later released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700).