Suspected Shakahola massacre mastermind Paul Nthenge Mackenzie made his followers believe that he would grow wings and fly to meet Jesus, a Mombasa court heard yesterday.

The witness who was testifying in a case in which Mackenzie and his 95 followers face manslaughter charges over the Shakahola massacre said the self styled pastor would rarely be seen fasting.

As his followers fast to death and were buried in shallow graves, Mackenzie would routinely continue enjoying sumptuous meals while assuring his congregation that he would fast at the tail end of the journey to the promised land.

Under protection

The witness, a minor who is under protection narrated how his family made the long journey from Kitale in Trans Nzoia county to Malindi in Kilifi county to meet the preacher.

Upon arrival in Malindi, they boarded a vehicle and headed to Shakahola Madukani where Mackenzie dispatched an old man identified as Joseph to receive them.

The witness informed the court that once at Shakahola, Mackenzie called for a meeting attended by many people during which he issued orders that they start fasting in readiness to meet “Jesus.”

Children would be the ones to start fasting, followed by the youth, then women and finally men, the witness told the court.
Mackenzie, according to the witness, would be the last to fast but unlike the rest, his meeting with Jesus would be different. After fasting, he would grow wings and fly to heaven to meet them with Jesus.

The witness recounted how he crafted a plan to escape given the tough conditions at the forest. He managed to escape from his family’s dwellings in the forest to look for food at a neighbour’s house after fasting for three days, but his host reported him to Mackenzie, upon which he was whipped by his mother and the pastor’s men for breaking the rules.

Children’s home

He escaped the second time and was rescued by an old man who took him to school and later a children’s home.

Mackenzie and his co-accused are also facing several charges including torture and cruelty against children, violation of basic education act, terrorism, radicalization, being members of terrorism group and murder.

The hearing continues today.