By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
Recent developments regarding the Shakahola massacre emerged as the trial of Paul Mackenzie and his co-defendants progressed at the Mombasa Law Courts.
Today on 10th September, two witnesses, safeguarded by the Witness Protection Agency, provided their testimonies.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) the court was informed by one of the witnesses that Mackenzie designated his followers as “Wateule,” while individuals outside of Shakahola were considered non-followers and labeled as “watu wamataifa.”
The witness narrated to the court how her mother learned of Paul Mackenzie from watching his preaching on TV while they resided in Eldoret.
The witness recounted that her mother attempted to influence Mackenzie’s teachings to her husband, an idea that resulted in their conflict.
She informed the court that the mother relocated to Kitale prior to traveling to Madukani in Malindi, where Mackenzie had made arrangements for someone to pick them and transport them to Shakahola.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reiterated that the witness disclosed that while at Shakahola, Mackenzie called for a meeting and instructed his followers to fast until death to see Jesus.
Sometimes, the witness would break the fast and steal food, but he faced severe physical punishment when caught. When he could no longer bear to fast, the witness escaped from Shakahola, but was later arrested and taken back by the “wazee”.
The witness successfully executed another escape plan from Shakahola, a place he said was under strict surveillance. Following his rescue, he informed the court that he had received the news of his mother’s death from a counselor during a counseling session in Malindi.
“The second witness informed the court that children who disobeyed Mackenzie’s fasting instructions were tied with ropes and subjected to physical torture. Further, he exposed how Mackenzie had lined up the order of fasting to death. In a meeting that the witness attended, Mackenzie had ordered that children will be first to fast, then the youths who will be followed by women and later men,” noted the DCI.
“Furthermore, the witness stated that Mackenzie had positioned himself to be the last to die, a testimony that was also presented during yesterday’s hearing by another witness. He also described how he was fortunate to devise an escape plan after several failed attempts,” added the DCI.
The Chief Magistrate Hon. Alex Ithuku dropped charges against two accused in the same case following their deaths.
The court made the ruling yesterday after death and post-mortem reports were presented to Hon. Ithuku.
The reports indicated that two individuals passed away due to illness while receiving care at different medical facilities.
Mary Mbita, the 57th accused, died in June while undergoing treatment at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. Similarly, Edison Safari, referred to as Baba Sifa and identified as the 27th accused, passed away on August 19, 2024, while under care at Shimo la Tewa Health Facility.
The case against Mackenzie and his counterparts is set to enter its third day this week.