Tag: Paul Mackenzie news

Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, currently detained at Shimo La Tewa Prison, has vehemently denied any connection to the recent discovery of graves and a fresh wave of deaths in the Binzaro area of Kilifi County. This comes as detectives intensify their probe into suspected cultic practices eerily similar to the tragic Shakahola massacre.

Through his lawyer, Lawrence Obonyo, Mackenzie expressed shock and frustration, asserting that he has had no contact with anyone outside the prison since his arrest in April 2023. The preacher, who is already facing charges of terrorism, manslaughter, and child abuse related to the Shakahola incident, dismissed the new allegations as a deliberate attempt to tarnish his name and interfere with his ongoing court cases.

“This is a deliberate smear campaign aimed at derailing justice,” Obonyo stated.

New Graves Uncovered, Suspects Arrested

Last week, investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), led by Homicide Division Director Martin Nyuguto, visited a forested section of Kwa Binzaro village within Chakama Ranch. During their operation, they identified several suspected grave sites. Exhumations are set to begin shortly, carried out by a joint team of homicide detectives, forensic officers, and pathologists.

So far, one body and skeletal remains have been recovered. Authorities fear that more victims may be buried in shallow graves across the expansive ranch. The DCI has secured a court order to facilitate further exhumations, following intelligence reports suggesting ongoing cultic activity in the area.

Several new suspects, including women, have been apprehended in connection with this unfolding case. One female suspect is now considered a key figure in the investigation. While authorities haven’t officially linked her to Mackenzie, her alleged influence and possible ties to previous cult teachings have raised significant suspicion.

Mackenzie, through his legal counsel, questioned the timing of her arrest;

“If she truly was one of his followers, why wasn’t she apprehended during the 2023 crackdown? Why now?”

Public Concern and Ongoing Investigations

Residents and human rights defenders in the region have voiced growing concerns over the recurrence of dangerous religious ideologies. Authorities have warned that more graves may be discovered as investigations continue to unfold.

A Kenyan court has ordered the hospitalization of Paul Mackenzie, a controversial preacher and prime suspect in the Shakahola massacre, alongside 94 other individuals who have been on a hunger strike.

Court’s Decision

On February 20th, 2024, Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku issued orders following the prosecution’s plea to assess the health and nutritional status of the suspects. This decision aims to ensure their well-being despite their protest action.

ODPP’s Argument

The Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) argued that the suspects’ health condition demanded immediate attention, citing their right to proper nutrition and healthcare as outlined in Kenyan law. Principal Prosecution Counsel Alex Gituma and his colleagues emphasized the legal framework guaranteeing these rights.

“Mombasa Law courts Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku has today ordered that Shakahola key suspect Paul Mackenzie and 94 others be taken to hospital after staging a fresh hunger strike. Hon. Ithuku’s directive comes after an application by the prosecution seeking to have the accused persons examined by medical practitioners on their nutrition and health condition,” ODPP stated.

The prosecution informed the court in the same application that it is not in favor of the accused being released on bond because, having left their homes for Shakahola Forest, they pose a flight risk and would be difficult for the state to find if they were released.

The ODPP informed the court that if the suspects were proven guilty of the crimes, they would likely face harsh terms and flee the country.

“The prosecution further notes that Mackenzie and his co-accused are likely to interfere with key witnesses including children, whom they have immense control and influence over,” ODPP added.

Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie has been found guilty of possessing and distributing unclassified films and operating a filming studio without a valid license. This is the first case that the state has won against Mackenzie since his arrest six months ago.

The judge ordered a pre-sentence report to be filed before sentencing Mackenzie on December 1.

Under Kenyan law, it is illegal to distribute or exhibit any film that has not been examined and issued a certificate of approval. Mackenzie could face up to two years in prison or a fine of Sh7,000.

Mackenzie is also facing prosecution for the Shakahola massacre, in which over 400 people were killed in Kilifi County. The hearing in that case was adjourned on Thursday.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has filed a fresh application seeking court orders to detain controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his co-suspects for six months (180 days). The DPP says this is necessary to allow the police to conclude investigations into the Shakahola massacre.

In a statement on Monday, September 18, 2023, the DPP said that investigations are ongoing and that DNA profiling of the 429 bodies exhumed from the Shakahola forest is a delicate and time-consuming process. Pathologists need at least an additional six months to complete the process and conclusively establish the true identity of the exhumed bodies.

The court has adjourned the hearing of the application to allow lawyers representing Mackenzie and his co-suspects to file their responses.

This is a significant development in the case against Mackenzie, who is facing charges of murder and terrorism related to the deaths of his followers in the Shakahola forest. If the court grants the DPP’s application, it will mean that Mackenzie and his co-suspects will be held in custody for another six months while investigations continue.

Kilifi controversial pastor Paul Mackenzi and 28 others will be detained for six more months pending their investigations and probation inquiry.

Mackenzi was first arrested on April 15, 2023, for allegedly telling his followers to starve themselves to death in order to “get to heaven faster”. He was also accused of using religion to brainwash members of his congregation, some of whom denounced education and getting health aid from hospitals.

The 29 of them were to know their verdict today, September 18, regarding the Shakahola massacre that led to the loss of more than 400 lives.

Since his arrest, more than 400 dead bodies of men, women, and even newly born babies have been exhumed from the Shakahola mass graves.

Mackenzie has spent more than four months in custody with the others getting arrested between May and June.

It is important to note that Mackenzi and the others are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The detention is a measure to ensure that they do not interfere with the ongoing investigations or pose a threat to the public.

The Shakahola massacre is a horrific tragedy, and the victims and their families deserve justice. The detention of Mackenzi and the others is a step towards bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Paul Mackenzie, a contentious pastor, has claimed that eating is his biggest sin.

Mackenzie made the statement while sat in court with the other defendants, according to a video that The Star was permitted to view.

“Dhambi kubwa ninayoifanya duniani hivi leo mimi, ni kula. Lakini siku nitakapo okoka kutoka dhambi iyo ya kula, nitaishi na yesu milele.”

Mackenzie and his supporters went on a hunger strike from June 6 to June 10 in protest of their alleged mistreatment while detained.

However, they were accused of trying to commit suicide in court because they refused to eat.

Following the attack, one of the suspects passed away from complications and hunger.

The contentious pastor and his co-defendant have already spent more than 90 days behind bars.

Starting on August 2 of last week, Mackenzie and his 27 companions were detained for an extra 47 days.

The Shakama Ranching Company Limited has denied selling land to cult leader Paul Makenzie. The company says that Makenzie never approached the directors about buying the ranch, and that they were not aware of any dealings where money exchanged hands.

The company’s attorney, Philip Kiaingi, told the Senate’s Adhoc Committee investigating the Shakahola killings that the directors were aware of the squatters’ encroachment on the property, but they were never aware of the activities taking place in the large field.

Kaingi said that the directors reported the invasion to the Lango Mbaya Police Station, but they did not receive assistance in evicting the squatters from the property.

The company bought the 100-acre property, but then sold 50,000 of those acres to the government. The enormous woodland acreage reportedly belongs to Makenzie in an amount of roughly 800 acres.

However, Kiaingi asserted that Makenzie might have fallen prey to an illegitimate transaction by squatters and other brokers.

The 50-share firm is currently in receivership after neglecting to reimburse a lawyer for legal services in the amount of Sh15 million.

Paul Mackenzie, a suspected cult leader who lives in Kilifi, has acknowledged that his family was not fasting despite inquiries into claims that he brainwashed numerous people into starving to death.
More than 200 people were unearthed from Mackenzie’s Shakahola farm after he allegedly told them to starve so they could see their creator, prompting a probe into his whereabouts.
According to a Citizen TV report, Mackenzie claimed to the authorities that he did not make anyone starve to death and added that his family was not even observing the fast.

“There is no physical church anywhere in Shakahola. I bought the land and sold it to members, and some are yet clear payments,” he said.

The area chief was unavailable, according to Mackenzie, and he was unable to provide an exact count of the population in Shakahola.

Recently, the number of corpses excavated from Shakahola Forest topped 200, and detectives are still looking into the case.
After detectives exhumed 22 more bodies on Saturday, May 13, the total number of dead bodies surpassed 200. Many people in the neighbourhood have subsequently been traumatized by the dead’ discovery, and other families are still anxiously awaiting word about missing relatives.
Mackenzie was thought to have been active in the region for more than a decade. Still, a mass burial was only found in the woodland after the police began a serious inquiry.

Cult leader Paul Mackenzie was recorded giving a sermon and his version of the gospel is what can only be described as shocking! He seems to be a very charismatic leader but his version of the teachings is perverse.

He was speaking to his congregants about the reasons they give for being unable to spread his gospel and specifically with them saying they are starving. And to him this is a garbage excuse to give for not going out to evangelise.

 

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The cult leader, Paul Mackenzie was adamant about letting the children die and he declared that he would help bury them. He would help the parents dispose of the remains because Jesus’ work is more important than any earthly concerns such as starving children.

His conversation around children was so callous one can’t help but wonder whether or not he is a fully-fledged psychopath hellbent on creating as much destruction as he can or whether he is just a madman drunk on his own punch.

The police have reported that they have exhumed 58 bodies from Shakahola Forest. A further 29 cult members were rescued, 14 cult members are currently in police custody following a probe into deaths linked to cult leader Paul Mackenzie.

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The true scope of the damage done by the cult is still being assessed and will be fully exposed once the police are through with their investigations. The cult leader, Paul Mackenzie is now in police custody and while most of his cult members are starving, he looks rather plump.