17-year-old girl testifies about forced removal from school, life in Paul Mackenzie's Shakahola cult

A 17-year-old girl has given a harrowing testimony about her forced removal from school and subsequent life in the cult led by Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola Forest.

Now under state protection, the girl testified before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku as Mackenzie and 94 other suspects face manslaughter charges.

In her testimony, the minor revealed that her mother withdrew her from school in Grade 4 in 2020 without her father's consent.

"I remember the day my mother picked me up from school; it was on a Friday. She brought me to Mombasa, and we attended church at Mlango Wa Saba in Mshomoroni, one of Mackenzie’s branches," she said.

By September 2020, the family had moved to Furunzi in Malindi and began attending Mackenzie’s church, where he preached against education, urging followers to sell their possessions and avoid medical treatment.

"In October, we were told about land available in Chakama. My mother bought two acres, and we relocated to Shakahola," she said.

The minor testified that her mother sold all their belongings except a mattress and some utensils.

"On the day we moved to Shakahola, we spent the night at Malindi Furunzi church. Mackenzie’s followers were transported in a lorry named ‘Times TV the Final Trumpet,’ with Mackenzie on board," she recalled.

Upon arriving in Shakahola, they settled in a village called Galilea, where they lived in tents before moving to temporary structures.

"We were assigned land by Mackenzie’s guards, including Alex, who is one of the accused," she stated.

The minor said she was among those selected by Mackenzie to spread his message door-to-door.

"There was no church in the forest; we held meetings in a village called Judea. I was appointed as a servant to do door-to-door preaching," she explained.

In 2023, Mackenzie instructed followers to begin fasting as part of what he called an "Express Lockdown."

"I witnessed the deaths of six children from our village. Their deaths were announced in Saturday meetings as a way to motivate others to fast and hasten their deaths," she said.

The minor revealed that she was forced to fast for 38 days before authorities intervened.

"I had to steal water to drink whenever my mother left the house," she said.

Mackenzie faces charges of murder, child torture, and terrorism following the deaths of over 400 people. The trial of Mackenzie and his 94 co-accused for manslaughter began on Monday and is ongoing.