Mackenzie, seven others charged with terrorism over 52 deaths at Kwa Binzaro in Kilifi
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Shakahola massacre suspect Paul Nthenge Mackenzie was on Wednesday arraigned at the Shanzu Law Courts alongside seven co-accused to face terrorism-related charges connected to the deaths of 52 people at Kwa Binzaro in Kilifi County.
The other accused persons are Shallyne Anindo Temba, also known as Ann, Kahindi Kazungu Garama alias Mlewa, Tom Ochieng Mkonwe, also called Thomas or Tomaso, Julius Tuva Luwali, Johnson Gona Richard, Charles Mutua Musee alias Mzee Mutua and James Kazungu Kahindi, also known as Ponda or Baba Bura.
e group functioned as a structured criminal network that endangered followers’ lives and contributed to at least 52 deaths.
In the second count, Mackenzie, Temba, Garama, Mkonwe, Luwali and Richard are accused of radicalising followers by promoting an extremist ideology opposed to the authority of the Kenyan state. The prosecution alleges they encouraged prolonged fasting practices that exposed followers to harm and violence linked to their beliefs.
Musee and Kahindi face a separate count of adopting similar extremist positions to facilitate the alleged offences.
Temba and Garama are further accused of helping secure land at Kwa Binzaro to support the activities, while Garama, Luwali and Richard are charged with organising transport for victims from Malindi to the area.
Another count alleges that Temba, Garama, Mkonwe and Musee were found with digital storage devices containing Mackenzie’s sermons linked to the case.
The suspects are expected to appear before the High Court in Mombasa to take plea on 23 murder charges and two counts of being accessories after the fact. Six of them will also face 29 counts of manslaughter before the Mombasa Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Content retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyan-court-charges-cult-leader-over-dozens-more-deaths-2026-02-11/.
