Four people including one woman and three men have been reported dead while ten others were rescued by police in critical condition after their pastor allegedly brainwashed them into starvation in Kilifi County.

According to sources, the victims were followers of the controversial pastor Makenzie Nthenge of Good News International Church who had been fasting in order to ‘meet Jesus’.

Police acting on a tipoff from concerned members of the public raided a house in Shakahola village and found the victims in very unstable conditions before rushing them to Malindi Referral Hospital.

"We have received reports of ignorant citizens starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor of Good News International Church,” a police report said.

"We found them in a very bad state, others fainted on the way to hospital. We can confirm that four of them died while others are being treated at Malindi Referral Hospital.”

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The fingerprints of the deceased were obtained for the purpose of identification, as the majority of them were lacking in identification documents and mobile phones.

The authorities have identified individuals who were hospitalized in critical condition as follows: Allan Obiero (17), Wycliffe Waimoi (43), Mercy Aoko (35) from Kisumu, Paul Karisa from Kilifi, and Jane Nyambura (38) and Alfred Shitemi (32) from Vihiga. Additionally, there were Felix Wandera (37) from Busia, David Abuhaya (49) from Vihiga, Collins Kabaye (22) from Busia, Monica Masika (36) from Kakamega, as well as an adult female of unknown identity.

This incident comes barely a month after residents of the area and Msimba villate attacked over 10 members of their community for being members of the church.