The hearing of the Shakahola massacre case, involving cult leader Paul Mackenzie resumed this week at the Mombasa Law courts.

Two witnesses, under the Witness Protection Agency, testified on September 10, 2024.

From one of the witnesses, the court heard that Mackenzie referred to his followers as “Wateule” while those out of Shakahola were regarded as non-followers and were branded “watu wamataifa.”

The witness narrated to the court how her mother learned of Paul Mackenzie from watching his preaching on TV while they resided in Eldoret.

As the witness explained, her mother tried to influence Mackenzie’s teachings to her husband, an idea that led to their disagreement.

The witness told the court that the mother moved to Kitale before going to Madukani in Malindi, where Mackenzie arranged for someone to pick them up and take them to Shakahola.

While in Shakahola, the witness disclosed that Mackenzie called for a meeting and instructed his followers to fast until death to see Jesus.

Sometimes, the witness would break the fast and steal food, but he faced severe physical punishment when caught.

When he could no longer bear to fast, the witness escaped from Shakahola, but was later arrested and taken back by the “wazee”.

Thankfully, the witness successfully executed another escape plan from Shakahola, a place he said was heavily guarded.

After being rescued, he explained to the court that he learned about his mother’s passing from a counsellor during a counselling session in Malindi.

The second witness informed the court that children who disobeyed Mackenzie’s fasting instructions were tied with ropes and subjected to physical torture.

Further, he exposed how Mackenzie had lined up the order of fasting to death.

In a meeting that the witness attended, Mackenzie had ordered that children will be first to fast, then the youths who will be followed by women and later men.

Furthermore, the witness stated that Mackenzie had positioned himself to be the last to die, a testimony that was also presented during yesterday’s hearing by another witness.

He also described how he was fortunate to devise an escape plan after several failed attempts.

The Chief Magistrate Hon. Alex Ithuku dropped charges against two accused in the same case following their deaths.

The court made the ruling on Tuesday after death and post-mortem reports were presented to Hon. Ithuku.

The reports indicated that two individuals passed away due to illness while receiving care at different medical facilities.

Mary Mbita, the 57th accused, died in June while undergoing treatment at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, while Edison Safari, also known as Baba Sifa and the 27th accused, passed away on August 19, 2024 while receiving care at Shimo la Tewa Health Facility.

The case against Mackenzie and his counterparts is set to enter its third day this week,” the DCI stated.