In the name of the Lord: Pastors from hell

Dust clouds rose into the sky as we drove about 70 kilometres from the tourist haven, Malindi, to Shakahola village. The landscape seemed intensely dry. Goats and sheep scratched at the remaining roots and tufts of star grass. This is the place controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church considers his hallowed grounds.

Mackenzie is the pastor of the Malindi church where four followers died of starvation. About 11 other members were rescued after a police raid. It was reported that the church members were fasting and praying to go to heaven.

The village is bare, with dusty, windswept walkways. Few shops are open. The owners are drowsy, sheltering from the unrelenting afternoon sun inside their mud-thatched houses.

It was market day and floods of people carrying bundles of sugarcane, chicken and sheep were headed into a nearby town. A bunch of children ran to stare at the uninvited guests.

So remote is the village that one struggles to receive mobile phone network signals. The controversial pastor moved here in August 2019 after he closed down his church in Malindi, saying he had finished his evangelical work. Majority of his followers followed him. Mackenzie has since gained more followers through sermons he delivers under a huge tree on his 10-acre land.

Cult-like church

Mackenzie, who worked as a taxi driver in Malindi from 1997 to 2003, has been charged four times for his controversial sermons, but he was acquitted each time due to lack of evidence.

He was arrested in 2017 alongside 35 students whom police said he had persuaded to discontinue their studies because it was ungodly. Most of Makenzi's children have not gone to school. He has three wives; two of them died and were buried in the church compound.

"The church is on land earmarked for the expansion of Malindi Airport. The wives were buried alongside each other in graves covered by a huge concrete slab," said a friend of the pastor on condition of anonymity.

He added: "It is a slab like the huge rock that covered Jesus's tomb. He plans to move the bodies once he is compensated by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA)."

The self-styled spiritual leader is on detectives' radar for allegedly preaching a dangerous doctrine that encourages his followers to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus'

Mackenzie was again arrested in mid-March after two boys died of starvation and was later released on a Sh10,000 bond.

Last week, he was held in custody after the death of four people in Shakahola village. Eleven others were rescued on the brink of death.

Nelson Wanje lost two grandchildren after his daughter-in-law acted on Mackenzie's orders.

"My daughter-in-law, who attends Mackenzie's church, locked up her children in the house for several days. The minors eventually died of hunger," said the elderly man, pointing at their graves.

Defiant followers

As Mackenzie awaits his fate at the Malindi Prisons, Collins Kabaye from Koyonzo village in Busia still insists he is ready to die and meet Jesus. Kabaye is among the 11 people rescued on the brink of death when police raided the village last week.

"Even John the Baptist was arrested for practising his faith, but he endured it all. I am ready to face it all in the name of Jesus," said a defiant Kabaye.

He was arrested for attempted suicide after being treated for starvation at the Malindi sub-county hospital.

Mackenzie's followers say they have been told to starve to avoid apocalyptic damnation.

Elias Khambi, a former member of Mackenzie's Good News International church, shed light on what really went on in these sermons. He claimed that the pastor had a hold over his congregants, instructing them to quit their jobs, skip meals, and not seek medical treatment when sick.

He even told them not to take their children to school, but instead visit the church for life lessons. Mr Khambi had become suspicious of these instructions and had quit the church, but it was not an easy feat.

"I was a believer of his sermons for six years. When the Malindi church was closed down three years ago, a majority of us relocated with Pastor McKenzie to Shakahola village. Here, we would meet on Saturdays under a tree from 9 am to 5 pm," says Khambi.

According to him, all appeared well until Mackenzie told them to quit their jobs, skip meals and not seek medical treatment.

"I became suspicious when he instructed us not take our children to school and instead visit the church every day for life lessons. When I moved to the village from Malindi, I started poultry farming but he was against it. He does not want anyone to be involved in any economic activities or move from the village to town centres. I became suspicious and quit the church," Mr Khambi narrated.

Ongoing investigations

Police in Malindi were allowed to detain preacher Paul Mackenzie for 14 days to enable them complete investigations into the preacher's alleged cult-like activities.

He will remain in custody together with six of his followers as seven others will be held for counselling before they are released.

Malindi Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui on Monday also cancelled the Sh10,000 police bond granted to Mackenzie last month by Senior Principal Magistrate Olga Onalo.

"One of the suspects who the prosecution has indicated as a victim has directly asked the court to release him so that he can go back to Shakahola to continue with his fast. This confirms that the activities are still taking place at the said place," she said.

She noted that although the suspects had not been charged, the court found compelling reasons to allow the police to continue holding them for 14 more days until investigations are complete.

She said officers were also investigating allegations of money laundering in respect to the alleged 800 acres owned by Mackenzie.

Those arraigned in court included Pastor Mackenzie, Robert Kahindi Katana, Alfred Asena, Sanga Stephen Muye, Gideon Mbithi Kioko, Joseph Kenga Mbogoli, Stephen Ominde Lwangu, Collins Kabae, Felix Wandera, David Mbaya, Mercy Auko, Jane Nyaboke, Paul Karisa and Allan Robiko.

This week detectives, led by Charles Kamau, have been camping in Shakahola to look into the mass grave where it is believed more bodies are buried.

"We have been given 14 days by the court to investigate so we are doing all it takes to be able to present clear evidence before the timeline elapses," said Kamau.

In a recent interview, Mackenzie denied having a church in Shakahola where people were allegedly starved to death.

The State accuses Mackenzie of manipulating locals through skewed extreme religious teachings, and fear of the unknown in pursuit of salvation, leading to deaths of many.