It has come to light that cult leader Paul Mackenzie could have been arrested as early as November 2022 for allegations of forcing his followers to fast to death. Mackenzie visited Lango Baya Police Station, located about seven kilometers from Shakahola, and reported that “someone was accusing him of killing and burying people in the forest.”
Although the incident was recorded at the station, no case file was opened. Police officers advised Mackenzie to report the matter to the Malindi Criminal Investigation Office, citing that Lango Baya Police lacked the resources to investigate such claims, especially since the allegations had surfaced on social media, which would require cybercrime expertise.
Four months later, in March 2023, two individuals visited the same police station and reported that three children were being mistreated by their parents in the Shakahola forest. The parents, Isaac Ngala and Emily Wanje, were believed to be members of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church.
This report prompted Chief Inspector Hamara Hassan, the Officer Commanding the Station at the time, to send two officers to Shakahola with the individuals.
When the officers returned, they had with them a young boy named EN, who was extremely weak. The boy explained that his parents had abandoned him without food and that two of his siblings had died of starvation and were buried within the compound.
This incident was also recorded, but again, no file was opened. Twelve days later, police officers from Malindi and Lango Baya went to Shakahola and arrested Mackenzie for murder, as he was accused of starving his followers to death.
The former Lango Baya OCS, who was testifying in a case where the cult leader and 94 other suspects face 238 counts of manslaughter, revealed that Mackenzie had been arrested in March 2023. However, the case was transferred to the DCI team in Malindi due to the sensitive nature of the allegations. Over 429 people lost their lives in connection with the cult’s activities.
The matter was recorded at the station, but Mackenzie was released on a Sh10,000 police bond, with no case file being opened. On March 31, 2023, officers at Lango Baya received a tip that a group of youths, believed to be Mackenzie’s followers, were involved in a fight with residents of Shakahola.
Eight individuals were arrested and booked, but once again, no case file was opened.
When questioned about why he did not open a case file against Mackenzie despite multiple interactions and accusations, Chief Inspector Hamara Hassan stated that the cases were sensitive and were being handled by the DCI. On April 13, 2023, police went to Shakahola and rescued 15 people who were on the brink of death, though four of them died before reaching the Malindi Sub-County Hospital.
Two days later, on April 15, Mackenzie was re-arrested and taken to Malindi Police Station, where he has remained in custody. Hassan was questioned about his initial interaction with Mackenzie but denied knowing the cult leader prior to his first arrest.
“I did not know Mackenzie and I did not fear him. How can you fear someone you did not know?” Hassan responded to defense lawyer Lawrence Obonyo. He further clarified that his first interaction with Mackenzie was when HN reported the case and during Mackenzie’s initial arrest on March 22, 2023.
The court also heard that Mackenzie used Bible verses to promote his teachings, which led to the mass deaths of his followers. A witness testified before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku that Mackenzie shared radical interpretations of Scripture, often contradicting well-known verses. He preached that his followers should abandon work, food, education, beauty, and other worldly concerns.
In some instances, Mackenzie did not cite any Bible verses but issued decrees that his congregation was expected to follow. He also frequently interpreted his followers’ dreams as “words of God,” instructing them to engage in constant prayer and fasting, among other actions.
The preacher’s instruction on continuous fasting led to the deaths of members, the witness said.
She testified to witnessing the deaths of six people, including a child, near their makeshift home within Shakahola forest.
The witness identified 83 out of the 94 accused as among people she spotted in Shakahola.
Among them were Mackenzie’s armed militia, who were tasked with guarding the sect members within Furunzi in Lango Baya, Malindi, from invaders – mostly locals and herders.
