Four individuals in Kenya have tragically died from starvation while reportedly fasting with the belief of “meeting Jesus”

The news of four people found dead and nearly a dozen others hospitalized in Kenya’s coastal Kilifi county after being rescued while waiting for the imminent end of the world has shocked the authorities and local community. The victims are believed to be members of Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s Good News International Church, who were told to fast to avoid “apocalyptic damnation,” according to the police.

Police have rescued 11 people so far, six of whom were emaciated and in critical condition. The authorities are planning to resume their search for more members of the group on Friday morning, as there are reports that others may still be in the forest. However, the police encountered hostility from residents in the forest who are believed to be followers of the suspect, making it difficult to conduct further investigations, including at a mass shallow grave that was discovered in Shakahola Forest in Langobaya, Malindi.

Pastor Paul Mackenzie, a self-styled spiritual leader who was once a controversial televangelist, has been on the police’s radar for allegedly preaching a dangerous doctrine that encourages his followers to starve themselves to death in order to reach heaven faster. He was present at the crime scene when the police rescued the victims from his farm, but he was not arrested, despite being out on police bail after being charged last month in connection with the death of two children whose parents are among his followers.

The incident highlights the dangers of extremist beliefs and the need for vigilance in identifying and addressing such ideologies that put vulnerable individuals at risk. The police and authorities are continuing their investigations into this tragic event and taking steps to ensure the safety and well-being of those involved.