Son of Paul Mackenzie Speaks After Father Receives 200-Year Prison Sentence

The son of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie has spoken publicly about how he escaped his father’s influence after the former pastor was sentenced to 200 years in prison over the deaths of 191 people in the Shakahola massacre.

Dan Mackenzie was present at the Mombasa court when Justice Diana Kavedza-Mochache delivered the landmark judgment against his father, who was convicted of the murder of 190 children and one adult.

The sentence comprised 100 years for murder by starvation and another 100 years for direct homicide.

Son Says Rebellion Saved Him From Shakahola Tragedy

Speaking after the proceedings, Dan revealed that he avoided becoming part of his father’s religious movement because he resisted attending church and following its teachings while growing up.

He said his reluctance to embrace the preacher’s doctrine eventually led his father to give up on involving him in the movement.

“Escaping this cult was just rebellious. I didn’t want to join or going to church when I was a kid. So, he just gave up on me and it didn’t involve me to go to Shakola,” Dan said.

His decision kept him away from the Shakahola forest, where hundreds of followers died after allegedly following Mackenzie’s instructions to fast in preparation for what he described as the end of the world.

How Paul Mackenzie Built the Shakahola Movement

Paul Mackenzie founded the Good News International Church in 2017 after living in Furuni village, Kilifi County.

He attracted a large following before authorities shut down his church premises, after which he moved followers to the remote Shakahola forest in 2019.

The settlement was divided into makeshift sections bearing biblical names, including Jerusalem and Judea. Followers lived in temporary shelters constructed using materials such as polythene sheets and thatch.

Prosecutors told the court that Mackenzie prohibited followers from taking their children to school or seeking medical treatment in hospitals, which he allegedly described as satanic institutions.

The prosecution further presented evidence that he instructed members to starve themselves and their children to death so they could reach heaven before the end of the world.

Some followers were allegedly beaten, threatened and isolated to ensure they complied with the instructions. In certain cases, children were reportedly starved while their parents watched.

Shakahola Verdict Draws Mixed Reactions

The Shakahola tragedy came to public attention in March 2023 following a tip-off to police. Investigators subsequently uncovered mass graves across the forest, exposing the scale of the deaths.

In Furuni village, residents welcomed the 200-year sentence, describing the judgment as a significant step towards justice for the victims. The local church associated with Mackenzie was reportedly deserted, with its doors permanently shut.

However, the verdict has not received universal support within Mackenzie’s extended family.

Relatives in Kalasa village, Machakos County, disputed the court’s findings, maintained that the preacher was innocent and accused the court of delivering a judgment influenced by public opinion. They also announced plans to appeal.