Kilifi residents lift lid on controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie
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Kilifi residents lift lid on controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie sole purpose of shifting base to Shakahola forest
Kilifi residents lift lid on controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie sole purpose of shifting base to Shakahola forest.
Residents of Migingo Village in Malindi, Kilifi County, revealed that controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie moved to the area in 2015 with the express intention of gaining as many adherents as possible.
Speaking to the media, Johnson Katana noted that once children started supporting pastor Mackenzie and routinely fasted, he got into a fight with a neighbouring school.
As a result, the preacher bought a field in Shakahola Forest and moved there in 2022.
At his then-new church, Good News International, he had won many over to become his adherents by the time he left, according to Katana.
“His followers began following him one by one. It was not only children who fasted, even adults were at his every beck and call. A lot of marriages dissolved because of the pastor,” he noted.
The neighbours expressed concern after the news of the massacre that occurred at Shakahola forest broke the previous week.
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“We are devastated because most of those who died are people who we know very well,” he stated.
The news has gained nationwide attention as influential people from religious and political circles weighed in on the matter.
Meanwhile, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki warned the culprits found guilty of leading the cult movement in Shakahola village, indicating that they will be subjected to severe punishments as subjected by the law.
“While the state remains respectful of religious freedom, this horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrators of the atrocity on so many innocent souls, but tighter regulation (including self-regulation) of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue going forward,” Kindiki stated.
As of Sunday, April 23, more bodies were exhumed from Shakahola village bringing the tally to 47.
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