Police in Malindi, Kilifi County are holding controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church in connection with the deaths of four of his followers.
Mackenzie was arrested on Friday evening and booked at Malindi police station and is expected to appear in court on Monday as investigations continue.
The four worshippers starved to death after they were allegedly instructed by the pastor to fast in readiness for the imminent end of the world.
Police said the victims had been told to fast to avoid “apocalyptic damnation.” They died after going for several days without food and water.
Officers acting on a tip-off on Thursday visited the scene in Magarini where they managed to rescue 15 people, including four who were emaciated and in critical condition.
The four died before reaching the hospital. Their bodies were taken to Malindi sub-county hospital mortuary pending identification and autopsy.
The other 11 people, among them two minors, are admitted to Malindi sub-county hospital.
“The ignorant citizens are starving to death in pretext to meet Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, one Paul Makenzie Nthenge a pastor of Good News International Church” reads a report filed at Langobaya police station.
Police also discovered 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” the report adds.
Last month, Pastor Mackenzie was arrested for the deaths of two boys who are believed to have died of starvation. Judge Olga Onalo of Malindi High Court granted him a Sh10,000 bail pending investigation.
The court is yet to open his case since government pathologists and officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are yet to exhume the bodies.
