In the ongoing trials concerning the Shakahola forest cult, chilling testimonies have unveiled the disturbing activities led by pastor Paul Mackenzie.
The forest, referred to as ‘Jangwani,’ contains areas with Biblical names like Bethlehem, Capernaum, and Galilee, where Mackenzie resided.
A minor, currently under witness protection, revealed the horrific instructions given to parents to starve their children, promising a divine encounter with Christ in Heaven.
“My mother believed every word Mackenzie said. She was convinced that if we fasted, we would meet Jesus,” the witness explained.
On the fourth day of hearings, he recounted how his mother, enraptured by Mackenzie’s teachings, took him and his brother into the forest after pulling them out of school in Mshomoroni, Mombasa.
“In October 2020, we left while our father was away.
We had no idea what awaited us,” he said, recalling their journey to Mackenzie’s church and eventually to the Shakahola forest.
Once there, the brothers faced forced fasting, with Mackenzie asserting that “the Son of God” would no longer come to earth, urging followers to meet Him in Heaven through starvation.
The young witness expressed horror at the tragic deaths he witnessed, especially among children.
“I saw so many young lives lost. Four siblings died right before my eyes,” he recalled.
Despite attempts to escape the unbearable hunger, the brothers were caught and returned to Mackenzie’s home, where they were forced to continue fasting.
Tragically, after a month, the witness’s 10-year-old brother succumbed to the ordeal.
“I didn’t think it would end this way,” he lamented.
Later, the witness learned he had been separated from his mother, only to discover she had passed away.
Fortunately, law enforcement intervened, rescuing him and providing vital treatment and counseling.
“I never thought I would escape.
I owe my life to the police,” he stated.
Another minor, a Muslim, shared his story of how Mackenzie’s teachings led him and his sister to abandon their education for church “Bible study.”
After rescue, he returned to school against his mother’s wishes, while his sister chose early marriage.
“We were misled into thinking this was the right path,” he reflected.
The court session concluded with the adjournment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Proceeds of Crime Act cases against Mackenzie and 92 co-accused individuals until October 28, 2024.
