This is after a multi-agency team probed mass graves in connection to his cult.
Before he became a pastor, Makenzie worked as a taxi driver near Malindi police station.
Then it is believed that the self-styled spiritual leader attended no church.
He started his own church in 2003 alongside his wife.
They moved to Migingo, a village in Malindi where they built a church and settled with the family.
Makenzie claimed to speak to God directly.
Around 2016, Makenzie acquired a TV station after one of his followers Kennedy Mwacharo sold his property in Lamu at a throwaway price of Sh20 million and handed over all the money to him, abandoning his family and responsibilities.
The property was valued at over Sh100 million back then.
The man would die two months later in unclear circumstances.
This is when cases of people selling their properties to give Makenzie the to meet Jesus started to emerge.
Betty, an air hostess who quit her 11-year job, left her husband and sold her lifelong investments at a throwaway price of Sh7 million before heading with the money to Makenzie’s Shakahola church.
Another victim is Kennedy Mwacharo, whose money is alleged to have been used to buy pieces of land in Malindi and Mombasa, and two vehicles, and started the TV station.
Dr. Ezekiel Mutua then in 2018 as KFCB boss closed his church for religious radicalization, knowing and unlawfully promoting extreme belief systems for the purpose of facilitating ideologies to advance religious and social change.
In 2019 he was linked to the missing four siblings from Mumias who left home for his church.
A murder incident report filed at Langobaya Police Station located in Malindi Sub County under OB Number 12/17/3/2023 revealed an occurrence of incidents of two children’s mysterious deaths linked to the pastor.
Also listed as suspects in the children’s death are Isaac Ngala and Emily Kaunga, the children’s parents.
Court documents allege that the two, on advice from Makenzie, had starved and suffocated the children, Seth Hinzano and Evabra Dito.
They are suspected of burying the two minors on March 16 and 17, respectively, in a shallow grave at Shakahola village.
“Paul Makenzie Nthenge, the spiritual leader, was arrested and is set to be charged with the preferred charge of murder as there is an order to exhume two bodies of children who are believed to have been buried in the bush after starvation,” a police report reads in part.
Makenzie in an interview said, “I am shocked about the accusations placed before me. I closed my Good News International church in Malindi in August 2019 and it’s important for people to accept that. I even sold the equipment there and the chairs as well. If a person used to worship with me then, they should do it on their own now and not by my name. Follow Christ and not pastor Makenzie.”
He went on: “I have always been on the media for the wrong reasons. The media and individuals always misquote or decide to run with a story out of context. The other time I made a sermon on earthly education being evil and I was taken to court for telling children not to go to school. This was not the case. It is a prophecy and it depends on how you take it. I can preach but I do not force the teachings on anyone.”
Now, the State accuses Makenzie of manipulating locals through skewed extreme religious teachings, and fear of the unknown in pursuit of salvation, leading to the deaths of many.
The once controversial televangelist is now in custody, on the detectives’ radar for allegedly preaching a dangerous doctrine that encourages his followers to starve themselves to death in order to reach heaven faster.
An unidentified number of people have died to the consequences of this belief.
As of Monday midday, 49 bodies had been exhumed at Shakahola, Kilifi county in his home; a number which is feared to increase astronomically as the process continues.
Four of the victims died in the hospital.
