Four people have died, and eleven others hospitalized after allegedly tricked into fasting to death by their Paul Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor of a church called Good News International, were saved by police on Thursday in Malindi, Kilifi County.

 Nthenge, the pastor, becomes a person of interest connected to the murders of two kids who were starved to death by their parents, who were following the advice of the radical spiritual leader. Nthenge was released on a Ksh—10,000 police bond despite being later charged in court.

PHOTO | COURTESY people in ambulance

According to a police report obtained by local media, The 11 were among 15 people who were seen engaging in odd practices at Shakahola forest in Langobaya by officers acting on a tip from a worried neighbour.

The secret informant reported the incident to Langobaya Police Station and alleged that at least 31 dead people, members of Nthenge's church, were buried in a shallow mass grave in the forest.

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The police report reads A contingent under the command of SCPC and SCCIO Malindi visited the scene for fact-finding. The team was able to reach a few households and managed to rescue fifteen people, among them six who were emaciated.

PHOTO | COURTESY a person in hospital

But due to their starvation, four victims—who have not yet been identified—died while receiving medical care.

Three survivors are in critical condition and have since been admitted to Malindi Sub-County Hospital. The deceased bodies were transported to the facility's mortuary to facilitate identification and post-mortem. Due to the size of the forest and the unfriendly locals, police could not confirm the mass grave's existence.