According to a 17-year-old boy’s testimony, notorious preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie shielded a man who had sexually assaulted his younger sister inside Good News International Church seven years prior.
The 10-year-old kid said in court that his mother was prevented from reporting the assault to the Malindi police station by Mackenzie and another pastor, George Mwaura. In Furunzi-Malindi, Kilifi County, the accused was the spouse of a female preacher at Mackenzie’s church.
The two pastors attempted to settle the defilement matter within the church, but instead they covered it up and denied the family justice, according to a statement released on Saturday by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP). Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku heard this information.
“Mackenzie told the victim’s mother, a church member, not to report the incident, promising to deal with the perpetrator,” said the ODPP.
“However, the witness said Mackenzie and Pastor Mwaura instead covered up the matter, frustrating their quest for justice.”
A man who had eloped with the girl when she was young was later married to the girl.
According to the ODPP, the youngster stated that the experience altered his opinion of Mackenzie and his church, which caused him to stop attending the required daily Bible study sessions, which Mackenzie’s doctrines considered crucial.
He told how one morning his mother brought him home with a man who had severely beaten him, chained his hands, and had him go back to Bible study sessions against his will.
“The minor testified that upon his return, Mackenzie’s brother and an accused person whipped him thoroughly for missing the studies,” stated the ODPP.
The court also heard that the church taught children to reject education, medication, and other worldly affairs, instead guiding them to memorize Bible verses for reference.
The witness read some of the verses he had memorized in the courtroom, where Mackenzie, his wife Rhoda Mumbua Maweu, and 92 others are charged with 283 counts of manslaughter.
He also testified that Evans Kolombe Sirya, one of the accused, coached children and instructed them to lie to a Malindi magistrate court in a case against Mackenzie.
“Sirya would transport the minors in his tuktuk to the court and coach them on how to testify, threatening them with divine retribution if they told the truth,” the boy stated.
The minor’s mother reportedly relocated to Shakahola forest with other followers of Mackenzie and died after several days of fasting. Her remains have not been found, and DNA analysis has yet to match any of the 429 bodies recovered from shallow graves.
The hearing is scheduled to continue from September 9 to 12 this year.