DCI detectives rescue 8 children fasting at Paul Mackenzie mother’s Malindi home

Eight children have been rescued from the homestead of Anastacia Mumwele, the mother of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, at Furunzi in Malindi, Kilifi County, where they were feared to be under enforced fasting.

According to detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Ms Mumwele allegedly denied the children food and prevented them from attending school while subjecting them to fasting and enforcing some of the teachings associated with Mackenzie’s alleged doomsday beliefs.

Ms Mumwele, who is the children’s grandmother, was arrested by detectives at her Furunzi home together with her grandchildren, aged between six and 14 years, on Wednesday afternoon.

A senior DCI officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the children, five of whom are believed to be Mackenzie’s, were found inside the house during the raid.

“We received information that their grandmother has been housing the kids, denying them food, which forced us to take action and rescue them,” the officer said.

The children were taken to Malindi Police Station, where officers from the Child Protection Unit are expected to take charge of their welfare and facilitate their relocation to a safer environment.

Mackenzie’s son, Dan Mackenzie, also claimed that the children had continued to follow teachings similar to those that caused deaths of over 400 people in Shakahola.

“I took action and went to report to the police. Their condition is not bad, but they were given food before being taken by police,” Dan said in an interview with the Nation.

He said he reported the matter after his brothers, sisters and cousins allegedly refused to eat and after discovering that the children were not attending school.

Police said their grandmother would remain in custody pending arraignment on Thursday.

“We will prefer charges related to the offence of child cruelty, torture and denying children the right to education,” the DCI officer said.

Paul Mackenzie, who has been in custody for more than two years alongside several of his co-accused, is facing criminal charges linked to the deaths associated with the Shakahola and Kwa Binzaro massacres in Kilifi County.

Mackenzie is facing 191 counts of murder in connection with deaths in Shakahola. Prosecutors have also charged him with manslaughter over an additional 52 deaths linked to the Kwa Binzaro massacre. Other charges against him include terrorism and radicalisation.

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