By Andrew Kariuki

Paul Nthenge Mackenzie’s controversial religious teachings came under intense scrutiny in court as disturbing testimony emerged detailing how families were allegedly driven into starvation in the Kwa Binzaro area of Kilifi County.

Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Eric Wambo, two prosecution witnesses gave emotional accounts that painted a grim picture of indoctrination, control, and loss of life linked to the sect’s activities.

The prosecution team, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph Kimanthi and Jami Yamina, alongside Principal Prosecution Counsels Victor Owiti, Betty Rubia, Alex Ndiema and Prosecution Counsel Yassir Mohamed, presented evidence describing how followers were allegedly coerced into extreme religious practices.

The first witness, identified as J.O. for protection reasons, told the court his involvement began in 2019 after watching Mackenzie’s sermons on Times TV under the program “End Times.” He said he became a committed follower despite not having access to a physical church.

He testified that the teachings discouraged formal education, medical treatment, and even the use of cosmetic products, which were described as sinful. As a result, he withdrew his children from school and enforced strict adherence to the doctrine within his household.

Trouble began when local authorities in Siaya intervened over the children’s absence from school. Faced with pressure from the area chief, J.O. chose to relocate rather than comply.

“In 2020, after speaking to people who had already moved, I left with my family for Shakahola,” he told the court, explaining that he travelled with his wife and six children in search of what he believed was spiritual fulfillment.

He described life in Shakahola as centred on strict fasting, at times going without food or water for extended periods. At one point, he said his wife and children fled, leaving him behind. He fasted alone for weeks until his wife later returned and found him severely weakened.

His testimony then shifted to Kwa Binzaro, where he said he was drawn after receiving a call from his son, Harrison Omondi, who is also among the accused in the broader Shakahola case.

According to J.O., meetings were held in Busia where followers were urged to abandon their lives and relocate to Kwa Binzaro to fast until death. “We were told this was the path to salvation,” he said, adding that Mackenzie addressed them through phone calls during the meetings.

Upon arrival in Malindi, he said they were directed to settle in isolated sections of the forest, living in makeshift structures with minimal support.

Communication from Mackenzie, he testified, was rare but authoritative and often relayed through other accused persons. “We were not allowed to read the Bible on our own. Everything came through those giving instructions,” he told the court.

In one of the most emotional moments, J.O. recounted the deaths of his six children, aged between one and sixteen years. He described how they cried from hunger and thirst as the fasting intensified.

“They would cry for food and water, but we were told to endure,” he said, admitting that he followed the instructions, believing it would lead to salvation.

He told the court that five of the children died from starvation, while he suspected one may have been strangled after showing signs of resistance. “She was still strong and calling for help, then suddenly she was declared dead,” he said.

The second witness, identified as L.A., corroborated the account, adding further details of the suffering within the group. She explained that the family had sold household items and worked on farms to raise money for the journey to Malindi.

“What we thought was a spiritual journey turned into suffering,” she told the court.

She testified that followers were taught that death would lead to reunion with loved ones in heaven, reinforcing obedience even under extreme conditions.

L.A. also described how children who attempted to escape in search of food or water were pursued, captured, and beaten to deter others. “They were beaten to instill fear,” she said.

She added that she too was assaulted after questioning the lack of food and water, an act that was considered defiance within the group.

Both witnesses described a tightly controlled environment driven by fear and strict obedience, where instructions were enforced through intermediaries allegedly acting on Mackenzie’s directives.

The case continues as the prosecution seeks to establish the role of each accused person in what investigators describe as a coordinated system that led to multiple deaths.