Residents of Ngurunga village in Ithanga Gatanga, Murang'a County are demanding closure of a local church that does not allow its followers to go to the hospital when they fall sick.
The residents said a handful of people have lost their lives and they are now calling upon the government to take action.
The outcry comes days after a 30-year-old woman died while giving birth in her home earlier in the week.
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Stella Njeri is said to have developed birth complications prompting one of her neighbours to alert health officers who rushed to her rescue and ferried her to Maragua hospital.
However, upon arrival, Njeri and her husband remained adamant that she will not be admitted to have a cesarean section delivery as advised by the doctor.
Ceciliah Mahinde a health officer who had accompanied Njeri said her husband appended a signature on the hospital records that he won't allow the wife to be admitted to the hospital.
"I took a lot of time to convince them to go to the hospital for safe delivery but even after getting there they were adamant to be attended by any doctor," she said.
Njeri reportedly died soon after getting back home from the hospital.
The residents out of fury threatened to set their home on fire in protest for her death claiming that this is not the first incident to occur.
Mary Wambui one of the residents said about six other people have died under similar circumstances for failing to seek medical attention.
Wambui said the church called 'Kigoocho' has strict doctrines which bar their followers from seeking medical attention.
"When the faithful in the church fall sick, they are advised to stay indoors as their leaders pray for them to get healed," she said.
Further, she said the founding bishop alongside his wife and four children all died under similar circumstances of failing to seek treatment.
John Waithaka another resident said the government should take action against the leaders of this church saying they take advantage of the vulnerability of the people to brainwash them.
"We want the church closed and its leaders charged for the lives lost," he said.
County executive officer for health Joseph Mbai said it's unacceptable for people to die in their homes instead of seeking medical treatment.
Mbai said he shall present a petition to the cabinet secretary for health Mutahi Kagwe and his security counterpart Fred Matiang'i to have action taken against such churches.
"We won't sit back and watch people die in their homes in the name of faith while their lives could be saved by going to the hospital," he said.
"It's okay for people to go to church to pray but they should not be restricted from going to the hospital, this is an outdated belief," he added.
