Witness denies bible oath in Mackenzie terrorism case
Shakahola mass murder trial
Controversial preacher Pastor Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused persons Monday gave their defence, with four accused persons testifying.
The four testified before Senior Principal Magistrate Leah Juma in the terrorism-related case linked to the Shakahola tragedy.
The defence hearing commences after the court ruled that Pastor Mackenzie and his 95 co-accused have a case to answer over allegations of organized crime and radicalization linked to the deaths of more than 450 followers in Shakahola forest, with the defence counsel informing the court that 19 witnesses will testify in favour of all the accused persons.
During the proceedings, four accused persons testified, giving their accounts of their association with Mackenzie and the Good News International Church.
The first witness, Alice Kawira, told the court that she was a “Mteule” and had purchased land in Shakahola for Sh1,500 after relocating from Mombasa, where she had previously operated a business. She stated that she later sold her house in Mombasa for Sh380,000 before moving to Shakahola permanently.
Kawira further testified that she used to attend church services in Bombolulu in Mombasa but did not know the official name of the church since it had no signpost.
She also informed the court that she did not believe in taking children to school or the hospital, adding that her six-year-old child died following an accident.
Another witness, Lucas Owino Ogola, aged 41, admitted that he had attended Good News International Church in Nairobi before its closure in 2019.
He identified Pastor Mackenzie as the church’s leader and George Mwaura as the Nairobi pastor.
Ogola, who described himself as a former four-school leaver and a “Mteule,” declined to take an oath using the Bible, claiming that his faith does not permit swearing by the Bible.
He further testified that he heard a voice he believed came directly from Jesus, instructing him to “get out because the door is being closed,” which prompted him to travel to Shakahola three days later.
He stated that he initially believed he was travelling to “Samaria” and did not know the place was Shakahola.
The witness also narrated that he was assaulted at Shakahola after differing with some individuals over certain opinions.
He told the court that he has never married and does not have children.
Ogola maintained that he never heard Pastor Mackenzie direct congregants to starve themselves to death despite attending gatherings presided over by the preacher.
He also informed the court that while in prison, he once fell ill but recovered after praying, saying that prayer has always been part of his life.
All accused persons were placed on their defence after the court found that the prosecution built its case through 96 witnesses, including survivors, investigators and experts, and tabled nearly 500 exhibits, which the court found sufficient to require the accused to respond.