The Long journey of cult pastor Mackenzie along the corridors of criminal justice system and how he has severally defeated justice in the giant East African Country (Kenya.
Unknown to many Kenyans, Mackenzie has had several run-ins with the authorities but has always outfoxed them through the criminal justice system.
He has been arrested on multiple occasions, but each time he has been released by the courts. Despite the respective agencies raising the red flags, Mackenzie has had the last smile at the courts.
However, the latest arrest may be the most damning yet.
2017: The Genesis
Mackenzie was first arrested in March 2017 for running an educational facility within the church compound with about one hundred and thirteen pupils without a licence.
He was also accused of teaching the pupils against the education syllabus and discouraging them from seeking medical attention when sick.
This was just the beginning of a series of run-ins with the law.
In October 2017, his ministry premises were raided by the police where about 93 children were rescued and Mackenzie was arrested again.
It’s around this time he had bitter exchanges with then MP Aisha Jumwa. He was charged with promoting radicalization and operating a school without proper registration.
He denied the charges and was released on a five hundred thousand Kenya shillings bond. Later that month, Mackenzie was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Malindi on charges of radicalizing children.
2018: Students Escape Deworming Exercise
Later in July 2018, at Kakuyuni Primary School in Malindi, a deworming program that was taking place in schools faced challenges after students fled from the school after the exercise kicked off.
The pupils later returned with their parents who objected to the treatment and claimed that it was demonic following teachings from Mackenzie’s ministry.
2019: KFCB Shuts Mackenzie’s TV Station
Mackenzie was arrested again in January 2019 for operating an illegal filming studio and was released on a cash bail of Ksh 1 million.
He was then arrested again on 13th April 2019, for inciting residents against registering for the Huduma Number, terming it satanic.
He appeared before the Chief Magistrate at Malindi Law Courts in May 2019 and was granted a one million shillings bond.
The case is still pending before the court and will be heard on 26th June, 2023.
2023: The Chakama Children
Mackenzie’s most recent arrest, however, is the most chilling. On 20th March, 2023, at Chakama Location, two minors, Isaac Ngala Titus and Emily Kaunga, reportedly died after being starved to death.Â
They were the children of Seth Hinzano and Evabradito Ngala. They were later buried in shallow graves within Mackenzie’s Shakahola farm. Ngala is a former GSU officer who deserted duty to join the cult.
On 22nd March, 2023, Mackenzie was later arrested and arraigned at the Malindi High Court on an accusation of forced fasting and starvation.
On 23.03.2023, Malindi High Court ordered for the exhumation of the bodies of the two siblings and an autopsy to be conducted to establish the cause of the minors’ death, this did not take place.
Bodies.. And Bodies..
This gave leeway to Mackenzie’s followers to exhume the bodies and burn them in a bid to destroy possible evidence that could have been used against him.
Consequently, Malindi Law Court proceeded to release him on Ksh. 10,000 cash bail and denied DCI custodial days to further investigations.
On 13th April 2023, in Shakahola Village, Chakama Location, fifteen followers of Mackenzie were rescued following reports that they were being starved. However, four succumbed to the effects of starvation.
The surviving eleven were taken to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for medical attention. The next day, 14th April 2023, 15 followers were rescued in critical condition over fasting that led to starvation.
Four of them succumbed on their way to Malindi sub-county Hospital.
Court Withdraws 10,000 cash bail
On 17th April 2023, the court granted a 14-day custodial order and cancelled the Ksh. 10,000 cash bail.
Three other accomplices of Mackenzie have since been arrested. Investigators and rescue operations commenced on 19th April, 2023 within the expansive Shakahola farm whereby 29 followers have been rescued. 83 bodies have been exhumed from 28 graves.
Mackenzie’s mobilization strategy was through the YouTube as well as referrals and invites by fellow followers.
According to Kenya Red Cross in Kilifi County the number of those missing is one hundred and seventy-five (175), perhaps an indicator of the possible high number of the missing are from the cult.
How Mackenzie always got away
Since 2017, Mackenzie has been on the radar of various security agencies, including the Police/DCI, and the security and intelligence machinery in coast region.
This is evident from the frequent arrests that he has undergone.
In 2019, Mackenzie’s ministry was shut down, and he cited harassment by the DCI and NGAO as reasons for selling off his TV station and church in Malindi and moving to “farming” in Shakahola.
The biggest challenge for security authorities has been keeping Mackenzie in custody to reduce his opportunities to mislead and harm Kenyans.
Mackenzie has managed to use loopholes in the judicial system to secure bail and be released from custody, raising questions about the seriousness with which he was charged, and the thoroughness of the prosecution and investigation.
