How TUK student left school to join pastor Mackenzie church

PHOTO: Pastor Paul Mackenzie at the Shanzu Law Courts.

The father of one of the accused in the Shakahola massacre case has narrated to court how his son abandoned University education to join a religious movement led by controversial pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie.

In the case prosecuted by Peter Kiprop, Jami Yamina, J. V. Owiti, Betty Rubia, Anthony Musyoka and Peris Ogega.

The man told the Shanzu Law Court that his son, through a referral from one of his former schoolmates in high school, was introduced to the Good News International Church associated with Paul Mackenzie.

He further told the court that since joining the church, his son, who was undertaking a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering course at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUK), abandoned his education and retreated to the forest in Shakahola.

The witness further told the court that when he questioned his son on why he no longer took education seriously, he said that the world was coming to an end and there was no need to continue with education which was an earthly and evil affair.

He revealed that since his disappearance he could not trace his whereabouts until he received calls from him but whenever he tried to reach him, he was unavailable.

It was not until he was told of his admission to a hospital in Malindi that he managed to meet him in person.

He said when finally met his son in hospital, he was dehydrated, weak, and struggled to talk.

He told the court that he could not imagine that his son who was once a rugby player, a sport associated with great physique, had deteriorated to a state he could not recognize.
The witness added that his son told him that the church he joined condemned education and that all the academic documents of the church followers were burnt and destroyed in support of Mackenzie’s teachings that education was evil adding that in heaven there is no education.

MacKenzie and his 92 co-accused are charged radicalization, engaging in criminal activity and being in possession of an article connected with an offence under the prevention of terrorism Act.

Hearing continues.