A 60-year-old man, Titus Ngonyo Gandi, whose son, a GSU officer, died in Shakahola on Tuesday, testified before the Mombasa High Court about losing four additional family members in the Shakahola tragedy.

Gandi recounted that in 2019, he started observing concerning changes in his wife, Esther Mbila, who had begun advocating against formal education for children.

According to the witness, his wife also discouraged community members from government employment or obtaining official documents such as birth certificates, national IDs, and educational credentials.

In an emotional testimony, Gandi disclosed that he has laid to rest his wife, two children including the GSU officer, a grandchild, and his daughter-in-law, all victims of the Shakahola incident.

The prosecution called another witness, a former Shakahola resident who departed in 2023 when members were told to commence fasting as a pathway to heaven.

Robert Kithi, aged 23, testified that the starvation order followed a gathering purportedly led by Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who stated the fasting instruction “came from God” as preparation for entering heaven.

The witness confirmed he had previously worshipped at Good News International Church in Malindi, which closed in 2020 after Mackenzie announced the church had fulfilled its purpose.

He testified that Mackenzie subsequently directed followers to move to the Jagwani section of Shakahola to await the Messiah’s arrival.

The witness stated that members were informed a rapture would take place three years following 2021, culminating in mid-2023. Many relocated to Shakahola based on this prediction.

He informed the court that he rejected the starvation directive and ultimately escaped as the fasting became more severe.

The witness also revealed he had been given security responsibilities, including protecting a water reservoir from wildlife, during his time in Shakahola.

He testified about burying two siblings in November, stating his mother prevented him from recovering their remains, maintaining they had “gone to the Messiah.”

DCI officer Paul Oguta, stationed at DCI headquarters, told the court his superior instructed him to proceed to Shakahola after receiving information that two children had been killed and clandestinely buried there.

The witness testified that his team was alarmed to discover numerous people starving beneath trees throughout the Shakahola location.

“I was tasked with overseeing post-mortem examinations of victims who had died at Malindi Mortuary, while others handled exhumations,” Oguta stated.

The witness informed the court he attended 88 autopsy procedures and submitted the corresponding reports as evidence.

He emphasized that he was present during these examinations to observe the procedures firsthand.

Additional witnesses who provided testimony on Tuesday in the murder case against Paul Mackenzie and 30 co-accused include the Registrar of Companies.