On Thursday 13 April, four people were found dead – and several others admitted to hospital – in the holiday district of Kilifi along the coast of Kenya.
According to the Kenyan newspaper The Standard, the police were tipped off about the matter, and visited the scene to investigate further.
Waiting for “doomsday”
There they found a total of 15 people. Four of them were starving and their condition was critical. They died before reaching the hospital.
Death near after this: – Idiot
The remaining eleven, including two minors, were hospitalized.
The victims are said to have been members of the congregation Good News International Church, and were allegedly waiting for “doomsday”, according to the report Africa News.
Surviving members reportedly said they had been told to fast to avoid “apocalyptic damnation”.
Found mass grave
Police also found a shallow mass grave in the Shakahola Forest, which is near the town of Malindi in Kilifi District.
Fell headlong – then came the shock
– The police could not carry out further investigations at the mass grave because of hostile residents in the forest, who we believe are the followers of the suspect, the police report states.
Now Crime Chief Charles Kamau says that the police have plans to dig up the bodies that are in the mass grave.
Surrendered himself
On Friday 14 April, the congregation’s self-appointed head surrendered to the police. That’s what The Standard writes.
The man, who is a former TV pastor, was arrested last month after two young boys died of starvation. The children’s parents were among his followers.
Beaten and burned to death
He was released on bail, and claimed after his release that he had shut down the congregation for good.
However, the police should have had the pastor on their radar recently, after he allegedly asked his followers to starve themselves to death in order to get to heaven faster.
