Paul Mackenzie still influencing cult from prison as six children feared dead in ‘Shakahola Two’

Shocking revelations have emerged indicating that controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, the key suspect in the Shakahola massacre, is still influencing cult activities from his prison cell.

This comes amid growing fears of a new wave of deaths in Kilifi’s Chakama Ranch, where six children from one previously rescued family are feared dead and buried.

Mackenzie, currently in custody and on trial alongside 94 co-accused, is alleged to be directing followers via mobile phone, sparking concerns about the effectiveness of prison controls and state surveillance.

The six children—Flora (15), Mary (14), Christine (10), Shadrach (6), Esther (4), and Tonny (1)—were reportedly buried in a settlement within Kwa Binzaro village, deep inside Chakama Ranch. The children were part of a family of eight rescued during the 2023 Shakahola operation and later relocated to Nyadorera in Siaya County.

However, in March this year, their father, Jairus, misled relatives into believing he had secured a job in Bondo. Instead, he and his wife, Lilian Atieno, took their six children back to Kilifi and rejoined Mackenzie’s now-banned religious sect.

The couple was among four individuals recently rescued from the forest and subsequently arrested.

Children dead

A close relative told Citizen TV that he managed to speak with Jairus and Lilian while they were in police custody. According to him, both parents admitted that their children were dead.

“To tell the truth, the children are dead, because he confirmed it to me himself. When I found him at the police station, I was allowed to ask him. He told me the children died and were buried. His wife also told me the same,” the relative said.

He further claimed that Mackenzie continues to manipulate his followers from behind bars.

“This ideology is still going on, and Mackenzie being in prison doesn’t mean anything. He still has his followers outside. He is in prison but operates using a phone. When we were at the DCI, I asked Jairus when he had planned to die, and he said Mackenzie prayed for him over the phone while he was fasting. This week, he ran off to seek help because his fellow followers wanted to kill him after he changed his mind following his children’s deaths,” he said.

Human rights activists warn that deaths linked to the cult may be rising again.

“The government must find a way to control phone use, especially for those charged in Shakahola One,” said Mathias Shipeta, Rapid Response Officer at Haki Africa.

“We have received information that Mackenzie and his accomplices are still preaching the gospel of fasting unto death via mobile phones, which, according to the prison service, they are entitled to use for communicating with family. But deeper investigations show they are not speaking to family.”

Shakahola Two

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He added: “Based on victims’ families’ reports, we expect to recover more than 47 bodies in what we are calling Shakahola Two.”

Residents of Kwa Binzaro village say signs of cult-related activity have been visible for weeks.

Authorities have begun the legal process of securing court warrants to search the area and assess the scale of what is being described as renewed religious radicalisation.

Eleven suspects linked to the alleged cult have been arrested and are in remand awaiting a court appearance on August 22.

The rising concerns come nearly two years after Kenya was shaken by the discovery of mass graves in Shakahola Forest, where more than 440 bodies were exhumed.

Starved to death

Post-mortems revealed starvation as the primary cause of death, though some victims showed signs of strangulation, suffocation, or blunt force trauma. Previous court filings also indicated some bodies had missing organs.

Despite ongoing investigations and public outcry, authorities believe elements of Mackenzie’s network remain active.

“We’ve received reports that some of those previously charged and held at Shimo la Tewa are regrouping and continuing their indoctrination efforts,” Shipeta said.

“As we speak, we are concerned that Shakahola Two may have already begun. We are urging the police to act immediately to prevent further deaths.”

Jairus’ brother, who had welcomed the rescued family back to Siaya last year, said their March disappearance stunned the entire community.

“He had left for Shakahola with his family the first time. We managed to rescue them, and they returned home. We thought he would reform. But he went back. I have lived with those children. I tried to find out how they are doing, but I haven’t seen them. Now I leave everything to the government to investigate,” he told Citizen TV.

“I ask the government to put an end to this Shakahola issue completely… it should not continue. It seems people are regrouping in the forest.”