Shakahola survivor: Makenzi starved us in black tents to die faster

A 15-year-old witness narrated to the court in Mombasa how controversial pastor Paul Makenzi and his trusted allies forced them to fast while in Shakahola, leading to the death of his brother.

The court also heard that followers of Good News International (GNI), which is linked to Makenzi, were kept inside a fasting bay made of black polythene bags to hasten their death.

The witness said the reason their tormentors used the black polythene bags was to hasten dehydration and, consequently, death, as black is known for absorbing heat.

The witness, who was under witness protection, recounted to the court that he and his brother had previously attempted to escape from the Shakahola forest. However, they were apprehended and compelled to return to Shakahola, where they were forced to fast.

The witness was testifying in a case involving controversial preacher Paul Makenzi, who, along with 92 other individuals, is accused of the manslaughter of 238 people.

In what seemed emotional to the witness while testifying before Mombasa Chief Justice Alex Ithuku, he said that his brother later died while fasting.

“He was weak from lack of food and water. They were instructed to fast so that they could hasten their journey to heaven. Makenzi had indicated that there were messages that Jesus had indicated that he wouldn't come back, but his people should follow him through death,” the witness told the court.

The witness told the court that these messages were communicated during meetings held on Saturday, and he could recall attending one meeting with his mother and brother.

The witness further told the court that in the same meetings, they were instructed to fast in order, from the youngest to the oldest children, and then Makenzi’s children.

After the children, women would fast, with the last being Makenzi's wife. The last group to fast and die were men, with Pastor Paul Mackenzie being the last to die.

He noted that there were people from Shakahola who had been assigned roles, for example, a village elder, a team responsible for discipline, and a security team.

The witness also recalled at one time being disciplined by Evans Sirya, one of the accused persons, by severe beating him. 

According to the witness, the security teams comprised individuals he recognised, including Manu wa Tuk Tuk, Titus, Stefano, Hallelujah, Robert, and Charles.

They used to guard the Shakahola by giving intelligence reports to residents in case the police approached, so that they could escape.

They could also prevent people from escaping from Shakahola forest and were armed with whips and pangas. 

He told the court that one accused person, Michael Omweri would help in reading the Bible verses given by Makenzi. They were advised not to visit one another and to wait for God to provide food if they were in need.

During the burials, Makenzi would praise the deceased, terming the deceased as heroes, and noted that there was no crying in burials or sad faces, as it was considered unholy.