Paul Mackenzie twisted Bible teachings to mislead followers, court told
Dr Stephen Gathogo Anyenda said he analysed several of Mackenzie’s sermons posted online and found them to be misleading, radical and contrary to Christian doctrine.
A senior religious leader has told a Mombasa court that controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie manipulated Bible teachings to deceive his followers, leading them into extreme and harmful beliefs.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics, Dr Stephen Gathogo Anyenda, appeared before the Shanzu Law Courts as an expert witness in the ongoing terrorism case against Mackenzie and 92 others.
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The accused face multiple charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
Dr Anyenda said he analysed several of Mackenzie’s sermons posted online and found them to be misleading, radical and contrary to Christian doctrine.
He explained that selective interpretation of scripture can easily distort its true meaning and fuel the emergence of cult-like movements.
In his detailed report presented to the court, Dr Anyenda outlined how Mackenzie’s teachings deviated from biblical truth.
He said Mackenzie’s church had redefined Christian fasting as a means to attain salvation, contrary to the Bible’s purpose of fasting, which is to seek divine guidance, repentance, and closeness to God.
The expert report also examined how religious interpretation influences community life, including education, health, and social behaviour. Dr Anyenda highlighted that genuine faith does not reject medical care or government registration, as Mackenzie’s followers had been taught.
Several other witnesses testified during the hearing.
Among them was a Tanzanian national whose wife is among the accused. He told the court that his three children went missing after joining Mackenzie’s followers, and DNA tests conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had linked him to one of the deceased victims.
“I have not visited my parents since my children disappeared. I do not know how to explain their loss,” he said.
Another witness, identified as the 76th to testify, described herself as a long-time member of the Good News International Church.
She told the court that she had not sought medical treatment since 2014, in line with Mackenzie’s teachings, which discouraged followers from using beauty products or registering for the Huduma Number.
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