A witness in the ongoing case against Paul Mackenzie, the alleged mastermind behind the Shakahola massacre, testified in a Mombasa court that Mackenzie instructed his followers to fast to death, claiming Jesus would meet them in heaven instead of returning to earth. The testimony came from a minor under witness protection, who recounted how Mackenzie convinced parents to starve their children, promising a “heavenly reunion with Christ.”
The witness described how he and his brother were taken by their mother, a devoted Mackenzie follower, from their home in Mombasa to Shakahola forest in 2020.
There, forced fasting began, leading to the deaths of many children, including four siblings under the age of ten. After attempting to escape, the boys were captured and returned to Mackenzie’s compound, where the witness’s 10-year-old brother died of starvation. Soon after, their mother also passed away, and police later rescued the witness.
Another witness, a Muslim minor, testified about being introduced to Mackenzie’s church by his mother and sister after falling ill. The siblings dropped out of school and joined Mackenzie’s Bible study, following teachings that discouraged hospital visits. Although the siblings were eventually rescued and returned to school, their mother remained committed to Mackenzie’s beliefs and disappeared after returning to Shakahola in 2023.
Mackenzie and 95 others face charges including terrorism, child cruelty, radicalization, and murder, as well as violations of the Basic Education Act.
