Piece by: Moses Sagwe

05 June 2023

• This he thought was one way of returning their thanks to him after all the crazy news that has emerged from the Shakahola Cult.

Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International church surprised journalists after asking them to buy him bread and milk.

This he thought was one way of returning their thanks to him after all the crazy news that has emerged from the Shakahola Cult.

Mackenzie, who was presented in court on Friday after being remanded for 30 days, is facing various charges, including the death of those who died and were buried in the mass graves in Shakahola.

When he made his request to the journalists, Mackenzie said that he was locked up and does not have the freedom to earn money and so it would be wise for the journalists to buy him bread and milk.

"You have made a lot of money but you can't even buy me bread. I am stressed, I can't even earn money. I'm not able to bring myself at least a packet of milk. At least bro, I'm in, you're out, or whatever, sir," Mackenzie told the journalists in a video clip that has been released.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has said controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie has killed more people than terrorists in ten years.

Kindiki said police will narrow down to a suspect and not based on religion.

The CS was speaking at a church service at the Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG) in Sagana Town, Kirinyaga County.

Mackenzie of Good News International Church is accused of brainwashing his followers to starve to death in the belief that they will meet Jesus.

"That one suspect in Shakahola has killed more people than those killed by Al- Shabaab in Kenya in the last 10 years. Garrisa University was 148 which was the biggest casualty, in Dusit 21. One person has killed hundreds of people," he said.

Kindiki said they will weed out suspects who hide in Churches in the name of religion.

The CS vowed not to allow any cult activities in Kenya.

"All the crooks and criminals who are hiding in the church of Jesus Christ, those who are hiding in other religions your time is up and we will smoke you out," Kindiki said.

"We will never see something like that. Just the way we handle criminals hiding under Islam, we will equally deal with those hiding under Christianity. So that they do not stain the church."

The third phase of the exhumation exercise in Shakahola forest, Kilifi County is set to resume on Monday, June 5.

Kindiki said the process had taken a two-week break to allow pathologists to conduct post-mortem examinations on the 129 bodies that had been exhumed.

“We have lost many people and exhumed 242 bodies so far, of people who were starved to death, hit with blunt and sharp objects or strangled,” he said.

So far, 91 people including one who died in hospital have been rescued and 19 victims have already been reunited with their families.

A total of 93 DNA samples have So far, 91 people including one who died in hospital have been rescued and 19 victims have already been reunited with their families.