The Shakahola massacre case involving Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 92 co-accused proceedings continued Monday October 28 at the Shanzu Law Courts before Principal Magistrate Leah Juma.
The court heard testimony from a witness, the father of one of the accused, who shared his account of how his son became involved with Mackenzie’s religious movement.
The father told the court that his son, through a referral from one of his former schoolmates in high school, was introduced to the Good News International Church associated with Paul Mackenzie.
He further told the court that since joining the church, his son, who was undertaking a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the Technical University of Mombasa, abandoned his education and retreated to the forest in Shakahola.
The witness further told the court that when he questioned his son on why he no longer took education seriously, he said that the world was coming to an end and there was no need to continue with education which was an earthly and evil affair.
He revealed that since his disappearance he could not trace his whereabouts until he received calls from him but whenever he tried to reach him he was unavailable.
It was not until he was told of his admission to a Hospital in Malindi that he managed to meet him in person.
He said when he met him, he was dehydrated, weak, and could not even talk.
He told the court that he could not imagine that his son who was once a rugby player had deteriorated to a state which he could not believe.
He also added that his son told him that the church he joined condemned education and that all the academic documents of the church followers were burnt and destroyed in support of Mackenzie’s teachings that education was evil adding that in heaven there is no education.
Mackenzie is facing multiple charges over the issue.
For instance, he and 92 co-accused were charged before Shanzu Law Courts with terrorism-related charges.
They denied all the five counts they are charged with, which include engaging in organized criminal activity, radicalization and facilitating the Commission of a Terrorist Act, and being in possession of an article connected with an Offence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2012.
It is alleged that on various dates between 2020 and 2023, the accused persons, who were members of the Good News International Ministries, an organized criminal group, engaged in organized criminal activities at Kwa Mackenzie area of Shakahola Forest, Chakama Location of Magarini Sub-County within Kilifi County, endangering lives and killing 429 members and followers.
They are also accused of promoting and/or adopting an extreme belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence namely fasting to death by advancing religious change, which occurred between 2020 and 2023 at Shakahola Forest within Kilifi County.
The accused persons are also said to have facilitated the commission of a terrorist act by transporting the members and followers of Good News International Ministries between Shakahola Forest and Malindi Township within Kilifi County, thereby endangering their lives.
Eastleigh Murder Suspect Is Ethiopian, Contacted Family Of Slain Women For Ransom
