Witness Tells Court Paul Mackenzie Warned Followers Against Huduma Namba: "Mark Of The Beast"

• Paul Mackenzie's extreme religious teachings led to the deaths of over 400 followers who fasted awaiting Christ's coming
• A witness told the court that his mother shut her salon after Mackenzie condemned the use of beauty products and hair braiding
• The witness, a former Muslim believer, expressed worries about the fate of his father, who remained in Shakahola as Makenzie's gravedigger

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Mombasa - The ongoing hearing concerning the Shakahola massacre, which resulted in the deaths of over 400 individuals due to extreme religious doctrines advocated by Paul Mackenzie, has unveiled new details.

A protected witness, formerly a dedicated Good News International Church follower, testified in the Chief Magistrate's Court about how Mackenzie used biblical verses to convince his followers to forgo education.

This witness, who converted from Islam to Christianity under the influence of his father—a devout supporter of Mackenzie—left school in 2020, deeply influenced by Mackenzie’s teachings.

“Upon our arrival in Shakahola, we were allocated a plot of land by one of Mackenzie’s assistants. My days were spent hunting, sleeping, or reading the Bible. However, Mackenzie later declared that it was time to be guided by the Holy Spirit instead of the Bible. He instructed us to fast and pray in solitude, awaiting Jesus’ return to take us to Heaven,” the witness statement read in part.

How did Paul Mackenzie view Huduma Namba?

The witnesses detailed how Mackenzie, with the assistance of George Mwaura, delivered powerful sermons that had a profound impact.

The witness further recounted how his mother shut down her salon after Mackenzie condemned the use of beauty products and hair braiding.

Additionally, when the Kenyan government introduced the Huduma Namba registration, Mackenzie warned his followers that the microchip in the Huduma Card was the “mark of the beast” predicted in Revelation 16-18.

The witness concluded his testimony with uncertainty about his father’s fate, who stayed in Shakahola and had been enlisted by Mackenzie as a gravedigger.

Witness withdraws testimony about Shakahola massacre

Meanwhile, a witness testified that her mother, along with counsellors and detectives involved in the investigation, pressured her into making statements under the promise that she would be released and not charged as a suspect in the case.

She admitted that after her mother withdrew her from school in Grade Four, they did not go to Nyali, Mombasa county, contrary to her earlier claims.

Previously, she revealed details about life in Shakahola Forest, including information about deaths and a claim that her mother forced her to fast for 38 days. She withdrew all the statements.

What else you need to know about Shakahola deaths

Details emerged that Paul Mackenzie was set to ascend to heaven from Malindi in August 2023

Shakahola massacre whistleblower was ignored and intimidated by the police

Several families were heartbroken as they identified their loved ones who perished and were buried in Shakahola

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke