Shakahola survivor recounts starvation and beatings under Paul Mackenzie’s cult teachings
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A teenage survivor of the Shakahola tragedy gave chilling testimony in court on Monday, recounting how he was forced to abandon school and later endure starvation under the influence of self-proclaimed preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie.
The now 16-year-old, testifying under witness protection as “SBB” before Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku, described how his life was upended when his mother, influenced by Mackenzie’s teachings, pulled him out of school while he was in Standard Three.
“My mother stopped me from attending school because she believed education displeased Jesus. I had no power to object,” he told the court.
He said his family later sold their household belongings to fund a trip to Malindi, where Mackenzie’s ministry was based. From Makongeni, they travelled to Furunzi, then to the remote Jagwani area within the Shakahola forest.
Transported in a lorry via a road cleared for forest access, the family joined other followers in setting up makeshift shelters in the wilderness. SBB described the living conditions as brutal, marked by hunger and frequent beatings.
He testified that his own mother, adhering to Mackenzie’s doctrines, refused to feed him. Driven by hunger, he once stole food from a neighbour, which led to a violent punishment.
“I went for days without eating. After stealing some food, I was beaten by Smart and others,” he said, naming Smart as one of Mackenzie’s close associates.
Content retrieved from: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/national/187169/shakahola-survivor-recounts-starvation-and-beatings-under-paul-mackenzies-cult-teachings.
