47 people die fasting at Good News International Church
At least 47 people have died fasting over a promise that they would meet Jesus if they starved themselves to death.
They are members of the Good News International Church in Kenya.
The church’s pastor, Paul Makenzi, has been held by the police authorities over the death.
On Saturday, the number of those dead was 39.
Kenyan authorities discovered 39 corpses on the property of Mr Makenzi, a pastor now in police custody after instructing his followers to fast till they die to meet Jesus in heaven.
The death toll jumped to 47 by Sunday night.
Speaking on the discovery, Malindi Sub-County police chief John Kemboi said more shallow graves on the land owned by the pastor arrested on April 14 for cult-related activities still need to be dug up.
Police discovered 15 malnourished people in the church. Four of them died shortly later. On the pastor’s orders, the followers said they were fasting to die to meet Jesus.
The pastor had been previously arrested and detained by the Kenyan police over the deaths of children, first in 2019 and in March 2023, but later let off the hook on bail.
He has a pending case in court.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Politics
Governor-elect Mutfwtang to unveil transition committee Tuesday
Governor-elect Caleb Mutfwtang said on Monday in Jos that the state’s transition council has a critical role to play in the handing over of power.
World
Nine casualties recorded in Texas after-prom party shootings
According to the Jasper county sheriff’s office, about 250 people were estimated to have been present at the time of the shooting.
Opinion
Chidi Odinkalu: Why Africans should care about unfolding crisis in Sudan
The threat posed by the Janjaweed was always very evident — even to the uninitiated.
Rights
Prison reactivates training school for South-East, South-South juvenile inmates
Prison service says it has reactivated the abandoned Borstal Training Institute in Enugu to reform juvenile offenders in the South-East and South-South.
Economy
Ex-MAN chairman urges incoming president to improve road infrastructure
The ex-chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ogun Chapter, has advised the incoming government to improve road infrastructure.
Rights
World Book Day: Copyright commission intensifies anti-piracy drive
NCC says it is intensifying its anti-piracy drive and enforcing stiffer penalties for copyright infringement and abuse of all literary works in the country.
