Pastor James Ng’ang’a Reacts to Mackenzie’s 200-Year Jail Sentence, Calls for Harsher Punishment

Outspoken Kenyan preacher Pastor James Ng’ang’a has condemned doomsday cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie following his sentencing to 200 years in prison over the Shakahola Forest massacre, arguing that the punishment was not severe enough considering the magnitude of the tragedy.

High Court Judge Diana Kavedza Mochache handed Mackenzie the sentence at the Mombasa Law Courts after finding him and 28 co-accused guilty of offences relating to 191 murder counts.

Ng’ang’a’s Scathing Reaction

The 73-year-old preacher did not hide his anger over the deaths of hundreds of followers who allegedly starved themselves to death after following Mackenzie’s controversial religious teachings.

Reacting to the judgment, Ng’ang’a suggested that Mackenzie deserved an even harsher punishment, questioning how a religious leader could convince his followers to fast to death while remaining alive himself.

“Jaji hapo hata ungemhukumu kunyongwa tu aende mtu anaambia watu wafunge yeye hakufi, agent wa shetani anatumia jina la Yesu,” Ng’ang’a said.

He further questioned the religious teachings that persuaded followers to believe that starving themselves would guarantee them a place in heaven.

“Yesu gani huyo? Eh Yesu gani huyo? Watu wafunge wakufe waende mbinguni,” he added.

Warning to False Prophets

Ng’ang’a also used the opportunity to caution religious leaders against misleading their followers through fabricated prophecies and deceptive teachings.

He maintained that preachers who exploit religion for personal gain would eventually face the consequences of their actions, distancing himself from what he described as theatrical religious practices.

“Utavuna kule ulikopanda. Waongo muache uongo. Me I don’t support dramas. Manabii wa uongo,” he remarked.

The veteran preacher also appeared unfazed by the possibility of facing legal trouble himself, saying he was already 73 years old and would not be intimidated by threats of imprisonment.

“Me, I’m 73. Hata ukanifuga hiyo mimi nitakuwa tu niko nyumbani tu,” he said.

Shakahola Massacre: The Numbers Behind the Tragedy

Mackenzie’s sentencing followed an extensive investigation into the deaths of hundreds of people whose bodies were discovered in mass graves across his compound in Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County.

Authorities recovered a total of 429 bodies during the exhumation exercise, making the incident one of Kenya’s most disturbing cases of religious extremism.

The murder case involved 191 counts, comprising 190 children and one adult. The prosecution presented 120 witnesses during the proceedings.

The court imposed a 200-year prison term, comprising 100 years for murder by starvation and another 100 years for direct homicide.

Mackenzie’s Family Disputes Judgment

While some residents of Furunzi village welcomed the lengthy sentence, members of Mackenzie’s extended family in Machakos County disputed the court’s findings and announced plans to challenge the judgment through an appeal.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie’s son, Dan Mackenzie, revealed that his decision to resist his father’s religious teachings while growing up ultimately kept him away from the deadly movement.

Dan explained that he had been reluctant to attend church or participate in his father’s religious activities from an early age, a decision that eventually saw him excluded from the group that relocated to Shakahola.

“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 Shakohola,” he said.