Charged with persuading hundreds of believers to starve to “meet Jesus”, the priests were forbidden to worship in any way. Kenyan authorities have banned five churches in the country, including the church of a pastor from a so-called “fasting cult” accused of inciting more than 400 followers to fasting to death. The Good News International Church license of self-proclaimed Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie was revoked on May 19, Associations Registrar said.
The self-proclaimed pastor urged followers of his movement to fast to “meet Jesus,” an event that shocked Kenyans after bodies were found in the Shakahola forest near the coastal city of Malindi. So far, 425 bodies have been found in this forest. The preacher named three villages, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Judea, and baptized his followers in a pond before telling them to fast.
Although most of the victims died of starvation, autopsies revealed that some, including children, had been strangled, beaten or strangled. Authorities also banned four more churches, including the New Life Prayer Center and the Church run by TV personality Ezekiel Odero, who has ties to Mackenzie. Odero is under investigation for murder, assisted suicide, radicalization and money laundering. He was arrested in April after human remains were found in the forest. Prosecutors linked the two preachers, but while Odero was released on bail in May, the court last week extended Mackenzie’s detention for 47 days until further investigation.
Kenya, a predominantly Christian country, is facing an uncontrolled proliferation of churches and sects whose unscrupulous leaders are on the verge of committing crimes. The government’s previous attempts to control these movements have met with fierce opposition, with critics denouncing an attack on constitutional guarantees for the separation of church and state. According to government data, Kenya has 4,000 registered churches with a population of 53 million. Many, led by charismatic pastors who preach the so-called prosperity gospel, invite believers to make substantial donations to their churches in exchange for the promise of an improvement in their finances.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
