Court witnesses have revealed chilling details of an alleged Shakahola land grab and claims that followers of cult leader Paul Mackenzie are regrouping. Read the full update on the ongoing case and its implications.
By: Ogonyo Centrine
Fresh revelations are emerging in the ongoing Shakahola cult case as witnesses on Wednesday appeared before a Mombasa court to shed light on the land where dozens of bodies linked to the cult were discovered. At the heart of the testimony were details of how suspected cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his followers allegedly took over land in Shakahola Forest, setting in motion events that would eventually lead to one of Kenya’s darkest chapters.
Among the key witnesses was Andrew Charo Baya, a 54-year-old farmer who has lived in Shakahola all his life. Baya, the 40th prosecution witness in the case, told the court that he first encountered Mackenzie and his followers on July 9, 2020. According to him, the group was clearing bush and preparing land for farming activities, despite not being the rightful owners.
“On that day, I found them clearing and preparing the area. They claimed they wanted to farm, but the land wasn’t theirs,” Baya told the court.
His testimony took a darker turn when he recalled a chilling encounter in January 2023. While walking back from a neighbor’s farm, Baya said he met a boy around 12 or 13 years old who revealed that people were starving themselves in the forest.
“He greeted me and told me they were fasting — fasting until they died. They referred to the place as Jangwani, meaning ‘wilderness’,” Baya testified.
Three months later, on March 17, Baya was summoned by the local chief to inspect a decomposing body found by herders in a nearby area called Shamba la Msimba. Over the following weeks, he assisted in rescue operations, helping survivors who were too weak to move and participating in the grim task of exhuming bodies.
The court also heard from Michael Mwaria, a land surveyor from the Ministry of Lands in Nairobi. Mwaria confirmed receiving a request from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to identify and record GPS coordinates of various structures within Shakahola Forest. His team mapped out homes, water pans, holding areas, and graves — both exhumed and untouched.
The case, which has gripped the nation since the mass graves were discovered, has now taken a new twist. There are emerging claims that Paul Mackenzie, despite being behind bars, may still be influencing his followers and running a cult from prison. Mackenzie has denied the allegations, but concerns persist, especially after a tragic incident involving six children who had previously been rescued from the cult.
The six — Flora (15), Mary (14), Christine (10), Shadrach (6), Esther (4), and Tonny (1) — reportedly died recently after being taken back to Kilifi by their parents. The children had initially been saved during the 2023 Shakahola operation and later resettled in Nyadorera, Siaya County. Their parents, Jairus and Lilian Atieno, told relatives they had secured jobs in Bondo but instead traveled back to Kilifi with the intention of rejoining the cult.
The couple was arrested two weeks ago in the forest after being tracked down by authorities. A close family member shared their confessions with Citizen TV, saying the couple admitted to returning to the group voluntarily.
Human rights organizations are now urging the government to tighten regulations, especially regarding inmates’ access to communication. Mathias Shipeta of Haki Africa raised alarm over reports that Mackenzie and some of his co-accused are using mobile phones to continue spreading their doctrine of deadly fasting — bypassing family communication protocols.
“The government must act swiftly. We’ve received credible reports that Mackenzie is still preaching his message from prison through mobile phones. This must stop,” said Shipeta.
He added, “This issue cannot be allowed to resurface. There are signs that people are regrouping in the forest. If we don’t take action now, we risk seeing a repeat of the Shakahola tragedy.”
As the hearings continue, pressure is mounting on both the judiciary and the government to ensure justice is served — and that the safety of vulnerable communities in Kilifi and beyond is guaranteed.
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