- For over two years, the followers lived in the forest under Mackenzie’s strict rules, which banned modern medicine, education, and cosmetics, deeming them satanic and against God's will.
- Mackenzie reportedly told his followers that any child who died after his kids would not enter heaven, leading them to ensure their children died quickly.
Image: CHARLES MGHENYI
The first group of followers of cult leader Paul Mackenzie arrived at Shakahola in October 2020, transported in a lorry, according to a witness in court.
Mackenzie had informed his followers in September that he had secured land at Chakama Ranch and instructed them to sell their belongings and relocate to Shakahola.
A 17-year-old witness, who was secretly withdrawn from school in Eldoret by her mother without her father's knowledge, recounted that they were given two acres of land for a fee of Sh1,500.
Her mother had been a follower of Mackenzie since 2019.
In December 2019, Mackenzie ordered his followers to abandon any income-generating activities and instead focus solely on “the works of the chosen ones.”
Before closing his church in Malindi, Mackenzie held his final seminar in Mtwapa, Kilifi, declaring that the chosen ones should begin door-to-door preaching about the end times.
For the better part of 2020, Mackenzie continued to preach in door-to-door missions.
In October 2020, he summoned all his followers to a church that had been shut down in Furunzi, Malindi, and informed them about relocating to Shakahola.
The witness described arriving at the church, where many people had gathered.
“When we arrived at the church, there were many people. We spent the night inside, and the next morning, we were transported to Shakahola forest by lorry,” the witness recalled.
She is one of five witnesses set to testify this week against Mackenzie and 94 others in the manslaughter case involving 238 deaths in Shakahola.
The witness described arriving in Shakahola in a large group, including Mackenzie.
Men and women were separated into different tents for the night.
The following day, her family erected a temporary shelter using black polythene paper on the land her mother had purchased.
Their settlement was named ‘Galilaya’ (Galilee).
Other villages were also given biblical names like Bethlehem, Sidon, Judea, Bethany and Emmaus.
For over two years, the followers lived in the forest under Mackenzie’s strict rules, which banned modern medicine, education and cosmetics, deeming them satanic and against God's will.
In January 2023, Mackenzie declared the beginning of a fast.
He announced during his Saturday meetings held under a tree in his village named Judea where he used to live with his family.
He said he had been sent by Jesus to initiate fasting, starting with the children.
His family was to follow later, he said.
"We were instructed to begin an intense fast with strict orders not to bathe or drink water," the witness said.
Mackenzie reportedly told his followers that any child who died after his children would not enter heaven. This saw them ensure their children died quickly.
He also ordered a lockdown and warned his followers that they must all be dead by June 2023 because something significant would happen that month.
“Mackenzie told us this would be our final suffering, and after that, there would be no more pain in heaven. However, his family did not fast,” the witness revealed.
Mackenzie also recruited men to prevent anyone from escaping the forest or trespassing into his territory.
The witness recalled seeing numerous burials, many presided over by Mackenzie.
Graves were flattened to conceal them, with some victims buried in mass graves, while others were buried alone.
The minor testified that Mackenzie fled the forest when search and rescue operations intensified.
Senior Sergeant Cyrus Irungu, another witness, testified about the difficulties they faced entering the forest after receiving reports of starvation and child neglect at the Lango Baya police station.
Without a vehicle, the police resorted to alternative transport. Upon arrival at the forest, they rescued an emaciated child.
The officer said the rescued child led them to where his siblings had been buried.
"This is where my brother’s wedding (burial) was conducted; he is sleeping under this red soil," the minor reportedly said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has lined 422 witnesses in the case.
The 40 women and 55 men linked to deaths in the Shakahola massacre are facing 238 counts of manslaughter.
They allegedly, in pursuance of a suicide pact for the object of their deaths, and others not before the court, jointly killed over 238 people in Shakahola forest between January 2021 and September 2023.
They had all pleaded not guilty to all counts of manslaughter.
They are also facing various charges of murder, terrorism and child cruelty in other courts in Malindi, Mombasa, Shanzu and Tononoka.
The victims were followers of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church. They were allegedly forced to starve to death as the world was coming to an end.