Nakuru Church On Spot After 4 Sickly Children Die, Buried In Its Compound

• Going to hospital for medical help when sick is against the teachings fed to the faithful of the Church of God Maela, Naivasha sub-county
• Four children with health complications died between October and December 2023 after their parents opted to seek divine intervention in the church
• The administrators in Maela have apprehended the parents; they also launched a search for the church's extremist clerics

Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Naivasha - The clerics of a church are at large following four deaths of children whose parents shunned hospital.

The deceased's parents are part of the faithful of the Church of God Maella whose preachers normally advise against seeking professional medical help when the need arises.

Why some Nakuru residents say no to Hospital

News sources indicate the quartet of minors developed health complications and their parents took them to the church, presumably to be prayed for.

They died on separate dates between October and December this year.

The locals adjoining the church decided to engage the local authorities in a bid to quell a would-be massacre.

They accused the church of misleading its congregation with extremist teachings that endangered lives.

The deceased were buried inside the church compound.

Four others were rescued from the church while in worrying condition; two parents are in police custody.

"We arrested them for refusing to take their sick children to hospital," said Mary Nnheri, Maela sub-chief.

A section of the church followers however defended their church and leaders, saying their faith was against the modern methods of treatment.

"My faith tells me not to go to hospital. I am following the word of God. He (God)said I should take my burdens to him," said a believer.

Video; courtesy

Such indoctrination was reported this year in Kilifi county where controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie led his faithful to death.

The Shakahola cult

The goers of the Goods News International church met their ends after long bouts of fasting.

Mackenzie is said to have led them into prolonged periods of fasting with the assurance that they would meet God after all.

They would, however, start dying one after the other, with their bodies being disposed of in shallow graves in the vast Shakahola forest.

Over 400 people died.

The preacher was arrested in April this year and has spent over 200 days in custody alongside his co-accused.

The charges preferred against Mackenzie by the state as regards the Shakahola bloodbath included terrorism, kidnapping, and murder.

In the face of his many troubles, the preacher has been upbeat that he won't be found culpable of all the accusations on his name.