The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has opened its case against controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and seven co-accused, accusing them of masterminding another deadly wave of deaths linked to extremist religious practices at Kwa Binzaro forest in Kilifi County.
Appearing before High Court Judge Wendy Kagendo in Mombasa on Tuesday, April 27 Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti told the court that even as Kenya continues to deal with the devastating aftermath of the Shakahola tragedy, prosecutors are now pursuing a second case involving at least 52 deaths allegedly linked to Mackenzie’s teachings.
“The country is still grappling with the deaths of at least 429 people from the Shakahola forest tragedy,” Owiti told the court, adding that prosecution evidence would show that Mackenzie “orchestrated a second incident in 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least 52 more followers.”
The prosecution named Shallyne Anindo Temba alias Ann and Kahindi Kazungu Garama alias Mlewa as Mackenzie’s key aides, alleging that they spread Good News International teachings through phone calls and physical meetings.
Other co-accused are said to have facilitated the movement of followers, including children, to Kwa Binzaro forest.
According to prosecutors, followers were persuaded to withdraw their children from school and travel to the remote site to undertake a fatal fast.
“These acts amount to murder as a crime against humanity, a widespread and systematic attack on civilians under a GNI policy to fast to death to meet Jesus,” Owiti submitted.
The prosecution’s first witness, Assistant Director of Survey Michael Mwania, testified that he was part of a government team that mapped the Kwa Binzaro site, marking graves and recording spatial coordinates. He told the court that the location is approximately four kilometers from Shakahola forest.
Chief Inspector Timothy Bett, the second witness, gave chilling testimony on the condition of bodies recovered at the site.
“Investigators exhumed 30 intact bodies and recovered 102 body parts, which through forensic analysis and autopsy correlation were confirmed to form 52 distinct individuals,” Bett testified.
He added that “most bodies were completely naked, with no clothing,” while graves were shallow, “some barely one foot deep” — accelerating decomposition and exposing remains to scavengers.
Bett further told the court that many graves had been concealed inside thick bushes, with entrances covered using thorny branches, while scattered remains showed signs of wild animal disturbance.
The prosecution says the evidence will demonstrate a deliberate and organized pattern of deaths linked to extremist religious indoctrination, in a case that could further deepen scrutiny on the operations of Mackenzie’s religious network.
