Kenya Bans Five Churches Linked To Starvation Cult

August 19, 2023 Christianists, Religion

Agence France-Presse reports:

Kenyan authorities have banned five churches including that of a suspected cult leader accused of inciting more than 400 of his followers to starve themselves to death, a government document said Friday.

The registrar of societies said in a gazette notice that the licence of self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie’s Good News International Ministries was cancelled. Mackenzie is alleged to have incited his followers to starve to death in order to “meet Jesus” in a case that has deeply shocked Kenyans.

While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims — including children — were strangled, beaten or suffocated, according to official autopsies.

The Christian Post reports:



Authorities have also banned the New Life Prayer Centre and Church headed by televangelist Ezekiel Odero, explaining he has been linked to Mackenzie and is under investigation for charges such as murder, aiding suicide, radicalization and money laundering.

Kenya, a largely Christian nation, has more than 4,000 registered churches. It has struggled to regulate some that engage in criminal activities, often preaching the prosperity gospel. Efforts to tighten control have been opposed, seen as undermining the division of church and state.

BBC earlier quoted Titus Katana, an escapee, as saying that those who tried to leave the cult were branded as traitors and violently attacked. He also suggested there was an order in which people were supposed to die, with children being the first to go.

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