Police arrest pastor for compelling 47 church members’ fasting to death
The police in Kenya have arrested Pastor Paul Makenzi of Good News International Church for causing the death of 47 members of his church after he instructed them to fast to death in order to meet Jesus in heaven.
On Saturday, the number of those dead was 39 but the death toll jumped to 47 by Sunday night.
Police Chief John Kemboi disclosed that operatives had discovered more shallow graves on the land owned by the pastor, which needed to be dug up.
He added that the police also discovered 15 malnourished people in the church, four of whom died shortly later.
According to him, based on the pastor’s instruction, his followers said they were fasting to die to meet Jesus in heaven as promised by the pastor.
Periscope International reports that Pastor Makenzi, who has a pending case in court, had previously been arrested and detained by the Kenyan police.
He was earlier charged with cult-related crime and the deaths of children, first in 2019 and in March 2023.
