The prosecution on Tuesday presented disturbing testimony in the manslaughter trial of pastor Paul Mackenzie and five co-accused, with two witnesses describing prolonged starvation, confinement and alleged psychological manipulation at the Kwa Binzaro settlement in Kilifi County.
Appearing before the Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, the witnesses told the court they were persuaded to join fasting sessions after being promised they would attain heaven, only to endure severe suffering under difficult conditions.
The fifth prosecution witness, a 60-year-old woman identified as KK and testifying under witness protection, said she had been a member of Good News International Church in Furunzi, Malindi, for a decade before relocating to Kwa Binzaro.
She told the court she was convinced that fasting would secure her place in heaven and sold her sewing machine for Sh7,000 to finance the journey to the remote settlement.
According to her testimony, shortly after arriving, she and other followers were locked inside a house for seven days without food or water. The room, she said, contained only a bucket that was used as a toilet by those confined inside.
"On the seventh day, I started shouting and asking for water because I could no longer continue praying," she told the court.
The witness further testified that Mackenzie regularly preached that the world was coming to an end and discouraged followers from seeking education or medical treatment, describing both as evil.
She also told the court that women were barred from plaiting their hair or wearing make-up because such practices were allegedly considered unbiblical. Followers were also discouraged from registering for Huduma Numbers, which they were allegedly told were against God's plan.
The prosecution also called an 18-year-old witness identified as NK, whose identity was similarly protected by the court.
She testified that co-accused Shallyne Temba frequently visited her family's home and persuaded her mother to relocate to Kwa Binzaro for prayer and fasting in preparation for heaven.
NK told the court that she later spoke directly to Mackenzie through Temba's mobile phone while he was being held at Shimo la Tewa Maximum Security Prison.
"The phone was passed to me, and I told Mackenzie I was ready to fast. He told me that time was running out and that we needed to hurry," she testified.
The witness said that after fasting for seven days, she became too weak to continue and asked to return home. However, she alleged that co-accused Kahindi Garama declined her request, saying she was too weak to leave because people would question where she had been.
She further testified that after she and her mother broke their fast because they could no longer endure the starvation, Temba informed Mackenzie by telephone. She said the conversation was on loudspeaker and that she recognised Mackenzie's voice.
"I clearly heard Mackenzie instruct Shallyne to hand the phone to me because I had known his voice for a long time while attending the Good News International Church in Furunzi," she told the court.
According to NK, Mackenzie instructed her to cooperate with the accused persons so she could regain her strength before returning home. She, however, alleged that those at the settlement continued encouraging her to resume fasting.
The witness also testified that after repeatedly demanding water and banging on the door, she was tied by her arms and legs before her mother intervened and she was untied.
Proceedings were briefly suspended after NK broke down in tears during cross-examination by Mackenzie's defence lawyer.
In an emotional statement before the court, she spoke of the opportunities she believes she lost after dropping out of school.
"I wish I had the opportunity to go to school and get a good education like you and become someone important in society. It pains me to see your client following these proceedings because he greatly contributed to my dropping out of school," she said.
Mackenzie, together with Shallyne Temba, Kahindi Garama, Tom Mkonwe, Julius Luwali and Johnson Richard, faces 29 counts of manslaughter. The prosecution alleges that the six jointly caused the deaths of 29 people between January and July 2025 at Kwa Binzaro in Chakama Location, Magarini Sub-County, Kilifi County. The case is continuing.