A protected witness has told a Mombasa court that pastor Paul Mackenzie allegedly instructed her to begin fasting during a telephone conversation while he was being held at Shimo la Tewa Maximum Security Prison.
She testified that the call came after one of the accused, Shallyne Temba, convinced her family to leave their home and relocate to Kwa Binzaro in Kilifi County, where followers believed fasting would prepare them for heaven.
The testimony was presented on Tuesday as prosecutors continued their case against Mackenzie and five co-accused, who are facing 29 counts of manslaughter before the Mombasa Court.
The witness, identified only as NK, told the court that Temba repeatedly visited her family's home and persuaded her mother to move to the isolated settlement.
Once there, NK said, Temba handed her a mobile phone, allowing her to speak directly with Mackenzie.
She testified that after telling Mackenzie she was willing to fast, he responded by saying there was little time remaining and urged her not to delay.
NK said she fasted for a week before her health deteriorated.
She further testified that when she asked to leave the settlement, co-accused Kahindi Garama allegedly refused, saying she was too weak to travel and that her condition would raise questions if she returned home.
According to NK, she and her mother eventually abandoned the fast because they could no longer endure the hunger.
She told the court that Temba later called Mackenzie again using the phone's loudspeaker, allowing those nearby to hear the conversation.
NK said she immediately recognised Mackenzie's voice because she had attended his church in Furunzi for several years.
She testified that Mackenzie instructed Temba to hand the phone to her before advising her to cooperate with those at the settlement until she regained enough strength to travel. Despite this, she said those around her continued urging her to resume fasting.
The witness further alleged that after repeatedly asking for water and banging on a door in protest, the other occupants restrained her until her mother intervened and secured her release.
The hearing was briefly adjourned after NK became emotional during cross-examination.
Fighting back tears, she told the court she regretted dropping out of school and believed the events surrounding the church had deprived her of the opportunity to complete her education and pursue her ambitions.
The court also heard testimony from another protected witness, identified as KK, who said she spent about 10 years as a member of Good News International Church before relocating to Kwa Binzaro.
The 60-year-old witness testified that she sold her sewing machine to finance the journey after being convinced that fasting was the only path to salvation.
She alleged that shortly after arriving, she and other followers were locked inside a house for seven days without food or drinking water and were given only a bucket to use as a toilet.
KK said the conditions became unbearable and that she eventually pleaded for water after becoming too weak to continue.
She also testified that church teachings discouraged followers from attending school or seeking medical treatment. Women were also allegedly forbidden from wearing make-up, braiding their hair or registering for Huduma Namba.
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