Cult church leader arrested over death of four members

Following the deaths of four followers whom he allegedly instructed to starve themselves in order to "meet Jesus," Kenyan police announced on Saturday that they had detained the local cult leader.

After being found Friday in the Shakahola forest close to the town of Malindi, eleven additional members of the Makenzie Nthenge-founded Good News International Church were transported to a hospital, three of whom were in critical condition.

Authorities stated that they feared the discovery of more victims.

“The pastor is under arrest after he surrendered because he knew we were looking for him,” said Charles Kamau, criminal investigations chief of Malindi sub-county.

Prior to his Monday court appearance, he was taken into jail.

Police raided the forest on the Kenyan coast on Friday after receiving reports of “ignorant citizens starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor of Good News International Church”.

The identities of the four dead are yet unknown.

Seven men and four women, ages 17 to 49, were among the 11 who were sent to the hospital, according to the report.

Following rumours of a potential mass grave where additional followers may have been interred, investigators were anticipated to continue their search in the Shakahola forest on Saturday.

“It is further suspected that there are many victims in the forest land believed to belong to the suspect,” the police report said.

According to local media, Nthenge was detained and charged last month after two kids died of starvation while in their parents' care.

Later, he was freed on a bail of 700 dollars (100,000 Kenyan shillings).

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