- EDITORIAL BRIEF: The case of Pastor Paul Mackenzie and the Good News International church highlights the dangers of radical teachings and the need for better regulation and oversight of religious activities. The discovery of bodies at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi resulting from the cult’s extreme practices demonstrates the importance of taking action to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The case also raises questions about the role of politicians in promoting religious activities and the need for them to refrain from interfering with religious affairs.
Controversial Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is at the center of a disturbing religious cult investigation, has been in the spotlight since 2018 when he had a dispute with Public Service and Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa over his church activities. CS Jumwa had accused Mackenzie, the leader of the Good News International church, of promoting radical teachings that had led to children skipping school after being brainwashed to believe that education was satanic.
Mackenzie had denied the allegations, warning CS Jumwa against her plot and vowing to take action against her and other politicians opposed to his religious activities. In a two-minute video clip that surfaced online, children aged between 6 to 17 years were seen renouncing education, which led to public outcry. In October 2017, police officers raided the Good News International church and rescued about 93 children, leading to the arrest of Mackenzie and some church members.
During the investigations, some of the children interrogated claimed that education is satanic and said they had left their homes and schools to follow the pastor. The pastor’s followers, who include primary, secondary school, and university students, defended their decision to drop out of school, quoting Bible verses. In October 2018, angry residents in Magarini, Kilifi County, demolished one of Mackenzie’s churches on claims of indoctrinating locals with false Christian teachings.
However, a recent probe has uncovered more details surrounding the controversial cult as detectives investigate the Shakahola Massacre. The investigation has led to the recovery of more bodies buried at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi, with a total of 39 bodies exhumed, some of them found buried in a mass grave. Preliminary investigations show that Mackenzie allegedly instructed members to starve themselves to “meet Jesus,” which led to the death of two children while in their parents’ care. Mackenzie was charged and freed on a Ksh.10,000 bail.
On April 15, police arrested Mackenzie after discovering the bodies of four followers who allegedly starved themselves to “meet Jesus” at his behest. Eleven other followers of the church, seven men, and four women aged 17 to 49, were taken to hospital, three of them in critical condition, after being rescued on April 14. The shocking discovery has raised concerns about religious cults in Kenya and the need for better regulation of religious activities.
The case highlights the dangers of radical teachings and their impact on vulnerable individuals, particularly children. Mackenzie’s teachings that education is satanic have led to children dropping out of school and potentially missing out on crucial opportunities. The cult’s extreme practices of instructing members to starve themselves to “meet Jesus” have resulted in deaths and critical conditions, demonstrating the need for proper regulation and oversight of religious activities.
The case has also raised questions about the role of politicians in promoting religious activities and whether their actions enable cults to operate with impunity. CS Jumwa’s allegations that Mackenzie bribed security agencies to prevent the church from being closed down highlight the need for politicians to refrain from interfering with religious affairs and allow law enforcement agencies to carry out their mandate.
