Nairobi Woman Dies While Fasting

On Monday, a 78-year-old woman was found dead inside her house in Nyayo estate Embakasi after a long bout of fasting and praying.

Catherine Kibara went missing for a couple of days with her phone going unanswered, which her relatives say was unusual for her. On Monday, the relatives approached Kibara’s house in Embakasi, where she lived alone, only to find out it was locked inside, which created more suspicion.

The relatives broke into the house and found her body lying on her bed. Police who arrived at the scene said they stumbled on a register showing she had been fasting and praying since May 18. Police suspect she died of starvation, but an autopsy will be conducted on the body to establish why and how she died.

This is not the first case of someone dying while fasting. Although they are rare, the question that remains is, “is it a religious rite or suicide?”

Christian fasting is a way of bringing their prayers close to God or making a special request from God. However, it should not seem like a punishment. Biblical fasting isn’t so much about how God responds to your prayers, but it’s more about how you bring your prayers to Him.

In 2019, a 19-year-old Nigerian was rescued from the jaws of death, having fasted for 41 days without food and water. There was also the case of a man who lost his sanity in Ibadan after fasting longer than he ought to have done.

The story of a Zambian pastor, who died at the age of 37, is another shocking incident. He was said to have died of starvation while on a 30 – day fasting and prayers. His wife found him dead in the early hours of the 20th day of his 30-day fasting program. He was said to have fasted on behalf of his family and church members. The case of a South African Pastor who died following 30 days of fasting is also still fresh.

From the Bible’s teachings, when the Israelites went for days without food to seek help from God, God responded to them by telling them that he didn’t want them to go a day without food, but he wanted them to abstain from the ways they’ve oppressed one another. The Israelites were merely putting on a show of fasting for God without genuinely following Him.

While individuals in the Bible fasted for long periods, experts advise that you consult a doctor before you fast for any period longer than twenty-four hours. This is because fasting for a more extended period can lead to dehydration and have other detrimental health effects, especially if you suffer from conditions such as diabetes that may require you to eat at certain times and monitor your body’s sugar levels. They also advise you to stop fasting and ease back into eating if you start to feel ill during your fast.

Remember, nowhere in Scripture are individuals encouraged to fast to the detriment of their health. When individuals and people groups called for fasting, it was typically for a specific period with a well-defined starting and ending point.