A 17-year-old boy recently testified in court, revealing that controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie protected a man who raped his younger sister seven years ago at the Good News International Church.
The boy, who was only ten at the time, stated that Mackenzie and fellow pastor George Mwaura prevented his mother from reporting the crime to the Malindi police. The accused was married to a female preacher at Mackenzie’s church in Furunzi-Malindi, Kilifi County.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), the boy testified before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku, explaining that Mackenzie and Mwaura obstructed justice by covering up the incident instead of addressing it within the church, as they had promised the boy's mother.
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The girl was eventually married off to a man who had previously eloped with her when she was still very young.
The boy's testimony revealed that the incident significantly altered his perception of Mackenzie and the church, leading him to abandon the mandatory daily Bible study sessions, which Mackenzie deemed essential.
He recounted how his mother, with the help of a man, forcibly returned him to the Bible study classes after severely beating him. Upon his return, Mackenzie’s brother and another accused individual punished him harshly for missing the studies.
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The court also heard that the church discouraged children from pursuing education, medication, and other worldly matters, instead focusing on memorizing Bible verses. The boy recited some of these verses during his testimony.
He further accused Evans Kolombe Sirya, another defendant, of coaching children to lie in court to protect Mackenzie.
The boy's mother, who later relocated to Shakahola forest with other followers, reportedly died after days of fasting, with her remains still unidentified. The trial is set to continue from September 9 to 12 this year.
