Four people starve to death as they wait to 'meet Jesus'

By Peter Ochieng

Police in Kilifi County are investigating an incident where several people reportedly took a fast under the pretence of waiting to 'meet Jesus.'

According to a police report filed at the Langobaya police station in Malindi Sub County, an intelligence report was submitted by one Karume Fondo, alleging "that there are ignorant citizens who are starving to death in pretext to meet Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, one Makenzie Nthenge."

The police report indicates that the suspect is a Pastor at one of the local churches.

The informant told police that there is a mass shallow grave of victims of the  'brainwashing' totalling to 31 bodies, in an unidentified place at Shakahola Forest within Langobaya in Malindi Sub County.

A contigent of police visited the area this morning, on a fact finding mission.

The team was able to reach few house holds and managed to rescue fifteen people, among them six who were emaciated and in critical condition.

Four people died in the process of being rescued. Details of the deceased are yet to be established.

Police discovered that most of the 11 who were rescued are from Kisumu, Vihiga and Kakamega counties.

"The team was unable to identify the alleged mass grave by virtue of vast land and hostile residents in the forest. It is further suspected that there are many victims in the forest land believed to belong to the suspect."

Bodies were taken to the Malindi Sub-County hospital mortuary, pending identification and autopsy.