A witness testifying against cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 92 others at the Shanzu court shared the painful story of how her seven children died in Shakahola forest.
Mackenzie and his co-accused face multiple charges, including radicalisation, engaging in criminal activities and possession of materials linked to terrorism.
He is accused of radicalising his followers and enforcing fasting and starvation that led to the death of 436 people, whose bodies were exhumed from shallow graves in Shakahola.
The woman, currently under the Witness Protection Agency, recounted details of how her family became ensnared in the teachings of Mackenzie.
Her husband, also an accused in the case, allegedly ensured their children followed Mackenzie’s strict orders, denying them food and water as mandated.
“My children died from prolonged and enforced fasting under the watchful eye of Mackenzie’s security team,” she told the court.
The mother described how she and her family abandoned education, medical care and any connection to government services as they sunk deeper into Mackenzie’s teachings.
According to her, Mackenzie condemned “sinful” pursuits and urged followers to withdraw from the out side world, eventually leading them to settle in Shakahola.
He promised they would live as “wateule” (chosen ones), safe from the influence of the “mataifa” (impure people), she said.
Before relocating, Mackenzie shut down his Good News International Church and Times TV in Malindi, claiming persecution by the government.
She said he formed a WhatsApp group to guide his followers on how to relocate, instructing them to pay a Sh2,000 fee to secure plots in Shakahola.
He had portrayed Shakahola as a sanctuary free from ‘worldly’ things.
Families left their former lives behind, moving to makeshift tents in the forest and receiving orders to avoid contact with one another, relying only on their faith.
Mackenzie assured them that their stay would be temporary until the arrival of Christ.
However, life in Shakahola became increasingly harsh.
The mother described extreme shortages of food and water, with Mackenzie imposing ever-stricter rules.
In February 2023, as the situation worsened, Mackenzie announced a brutal phase of fasting, resulting in a wave of deaths, especially children and the elderly.
The witness painfully recounted the loss of her children out of starvation.
She described failed attempts by some followers to escape from Shakahola, which often led to severe punishment.
“Followers who tried to flee or find food were beaten and left to suffer in the sun,” she said.
In one tragic case, an air hostess and her sister were beaten and forced to fast under their parents’ watch, ultimately succumbing to the starvation imposed by Mackenzie’s orders, she said.
Apart from the terror-related case at Shanzu law court,
Mackenzie and his co-accused are facing murder charges in Malindi, manslaughter
charges in Mombasa and charges of child brutality at Tononoka children’s court.