Pastor Mackenzie promised children wealth, helicopter if they followed his teachings - witness

In the hope of becoming rich and finding spiritual guidance, dozens of young men and women abandoned their education and families, only to end up trapped in Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s Shakahola compound, where many died or went missing.

Parents were left in despair, desperately searching for answers as they recounted how their children were lured by the preacher’s promises.

On Thursday, the 57th prosecution witness, Benson Mutimba of Webuye, told the Mombasa High Court that two of his children, aged 27 and 16, had left school after being convinced that education was sinful.

Mutimba said his eldest son was persuaded by Mackenzie, whom he called a “true man of God,” to sell all his property and move to Shakahola, with promises of wealth and even a helicopter.

“He told me Pastor Mackenzie had even promised him a helicopter if he continued following his teachings,” Mutimba said.

After his children disappeared, Mutimba reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Investigators then traced one of their mobile phones to Malindi, near Mackenzie’s area of operation. Safaricom records later showed that his son sent Sh200 to Mackenzie’s phone number upon reaching Ukunda in Mombasa County.

The 58th prosecution witness, Jesca Safari Kone, the second-born in a family of nine, described losing contact with her sisters after they travelled to Shakahola. She told the court that when she was unable to reach her sisters on the phone, she travelled to Furunzi, where they lived, but missed them. She later learned that they had gone to Shakahola, where three of her sisters and five of their children reportedly died.

Another parent, Esther Anyango, the 59th witness, recounted that one of her eight children got married and moved from Likoni to Shakahola. She later received a call from her daughter’s husband, who informed her that her daughter had died during childbirth. Since then, she has neither seen her daughter, her son-in-law, nor her two grandchildren, who remain missing to date.

The 60th witness, Roseline Anivisa Asena, from Embakasi South, testified that her brother joined Mackenzie’s church and began enforcing extreme teachings, including withdrawing his children from school and refusing medical treatment.

“My brother became harsh and burned his children’s school report cards and birth certificates,” she told the court.

She said she only realised her brother had gone to Shakahola after seeing him on television. Later, she came across footage showing her sister-in-law being rescued from the forest, emaciated and weak.

Children who had been rescued and placed at Mayungu Children’s Home informed her that three of her brother’s children had died and were buried in Chakama.

“One child died and was buried at night in Shakahola,” she said.

According to the children, by the time they left Shakahola, one girl was alive but unable to talk or walk.

The 61st witness, Florence Mwahita Mwaigo, testified that her son, Alfonce Chomba, one of the accused, had lost his wife, Gloria Riziki, and one of their children, Nathan Chomba, in Shakahola. She said her son discouraged education and medication, believing they were against their faith.

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The prosecution continues to build its case against Pastor Mackenzie and 92 co-accused over the deaths of 191 people in the Shakahola forest. The suspects are facing multiple charges at the Shanzu Law Courts under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

The case, which has gripped national attention, continues to expose harrowing details over the alleged cult activities in Shakahola, where hundreds of followers are believed to have died through starvation and indoctrination.