by Mike James

Once again, another false Christian leader has led his flock astray. Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, a former taxi driver turned pastor, allegedly taught the world would end soon, and starvation would get his followers to heaven. Presently 103 of his followers bought into the idea and are now dead in Kenya. Hundreds of others involved with the group are still missing.

Police launched an investigation into the Good News International Church after being tipped off. Nthenge was preaching to his followers in a forest near the town of Shakahola. Fifteen starving people were found alive, four of whom later died. Soon after this, many other people were found dead in mass graves. Others have since been rescued, although some are refusing to eat or drink. Nthenge and some others are in custody.

According to their website, the church began in 2003 with branches in Nairobi and along Kenya's coast. Up to 3,000 people became followers. The aim of the church was to "nurture the faithful holistically in all matters of Christian spirituality as we prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ through teaching and evangelism," the website said.

Nthenge launched a YouTube channel in 2017, warning followers against "demonic" practices (in his opinion) such as wearing wigs and using mobile money. Soon after this, he urged children not to attend school because education was not recognized by the Bible (in Nthenge's opinion). In 2019 he moved to the town of Shakahola. According to The Nation newspaper, last month, he revealed he "got a revelation that the time to call it quits had come."

Samson Zia Kahindi, a representative to the county assembly, said, "The month of March was set aside for all the children to die. The month of April was set aside for the women to die. May was for the men to die." This was based on the questioning of a surviving cult member.

"He told them to starve themselves ahead of the world's end on April 15, saying he would be that last one and that he would lock the doors," said Stephen Mwiti, whose wife and six children joined the cult and are feared dead. Mwiti said he had heard this from a former cult member who had been expelled for drinking water during the mass fast.

"He (Nthenge) had an elaborate plan of killing children, youths, and then adults, telling them he would be the last one to starve himself to death," said one of the hospital staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Benson Mutimba is said to have lost three of his four sons to the cult. They were recruited by Nthenge at rallies he held at schools. Mutimba said, "My sons would tell me that he would tell them that the world is ending, Jesus is coming, and that education is evil."

A few days after Nthenge was taken into custody, another Kenyan Pastor, Ezekiel Odero, was arrested to face criminal charges related to the mass killing of his followers, according to Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki.

Odero's megachurch, the New Life Prayer Centre Church, is in Malindi County, where Nthenge's Church was located. Odero's television channel is popular in Kenyan homes, with people traveling from across the country to visit his church. His YouTube channel reaches more than 400,000 subscribers and more than 70 million views.

Kenya is a hotbed of Christian religious fervor. I receive more international requests for communication from Kenya than any other country. The Church of God International is doing a work in Kenya under the leadership of Elder Robert Onsando. Mr. Onsando has set up a school in Kenya to help teach the Bible properly. Obviously, the need for sound doctrine is great.

It seems we are regularly reminded by the news of the truth of what the Bible tells us. We are told in the Bible that there will be false Christs and false prophets (Matthew 24:24). In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 we read about false ministers seeming to be ministers of Christ, but instead they are working for Satan himself.

Examples like this give a bad name to Christianity. It's sometimes hard to believe people can be persuaded to follow charlatans, especially when it leads to death. When life is hard, some are much more open to believing lies. But look around at all the false ideas and beliefs people have in this world.

It is important we all study our Bibles and think critically about what we hear in sermons from preachers. Satan is out there as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Sources: "Kenyan Cult Leader Living in Plain Sight," by Yasuyoshi Chiba, AFP, April 25, 2023, The Australian

"Kenya Probes Alleged Religious Starvation Cult As Toll Rises To More Than 70," by Rael Ombuor and Frances Vinall, The Washington Post, April 25, 2023

"Kenyan Cult Leader Told Followers To Starve Themselves Ahead of World's End, Sources Say," by Duncan Miriri, Reuters, April 26, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/with-aching-hearts-kenyans-seek-relatives-among-starvation-cult-victims-2023-04-26/

"Kenyan Pastor at Center of Inquiry After Dozens of Bodies are Exhumed," by Cora Engelbrecht, The New York Times, April 24, 2023

"Kenya Starvation Cult Toll Hits 90 As Morgues Fill Up: 'Nothing Prepares You For Shallow Mass Graves of Children,'" CBS, AFP, April 25, 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kenya-starvation-cult-death-toll-rises-child-graves-shakahola-forest-massacre/

"Another Kenyan pastor arrested over deaths of followers," by Evelyne Musambi, Associated Press, April 27, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/kenya-ezekiel-odero-cult-deaths-5d87d9731801ff1ee62fc1f615d18bef