The trial of controversial pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 38 co-accused resumed on May 20 before the Tononoka Children’s Court in Mombasa, drawing attention to one of the darkest chapters in recent history involving the disappearance and presumed death of dozens of children linked to Mackenzie’s Good News International Church (GNI).
The accused face multiple charges, including torture and cruelty to children, as the court hears painful testimonies from witnesses describing the suffering endured by vulnerable children under the influence of the church.
One of the key witnesses, Helen Mwikali Kimwele, who manages the Mayungu Children’s Centre in Malindi, recounted a disturbing episode from 2017 when 43 children were rescued from their families. These families were followers of the GNI church, and the rescue was conducted under court orders by senior children’s officers. The children, aged between 4 and 13 years, were placed under the center’s care to protect them from neglect and abuse.
Kimwele presented detailed records, including an admission register that contained personal information such as the children’s names, ages, and the names and contact details of their guardians. Some of this information linked directly to the accused, highlighting the involvement of several individuals in the case.
The rescued children had been severely deprived of their basic rights, including education and medical care. After intervention by the court, the children were eventually released back to their families following plea agreements. The families promised to re-enroll the children in school and to seek medical treatment for those who were ill.
However, a grim development emerged: most of these 43 children later went missing and are now presumed dead, victims of what is now known as the Shakahola massacre, which occurred in 2022, five years after their initial rescue.
Further testimonies revealed how some children survived the horrors of starvation, denial of healthcare, and other abuses, and have since come forward to testify against their parents and guardians. The survivors’ accounts paint a bleak picture of life under the control of the GNI church, where children were subjected to unimaginable suffering.
Two protected witnesses, a social worker from a children’s home and a private school principal, gave emotional and detailed accounts of the conditions endured by these children.
The social worker, who appeared as the 24th prosecution witness, told the court about a particular case involving one of the accused, Gilbert Khea. Khea used a court order and a lawyer’s letter to retrieve his 13-year-old son from the rescue center on May 21, 2019. Khea signed exit forms, promising to keep the center updated on the child’s progress.
Despite these promises, follow-up efforts by the rescue center failed as Khea’s phone number was disconnected, making it impossible to check on the child’s welfare.
A shocking turn came on March 25, 2023, when the boy escaped from the Shakahola forest and returned to the rescue center in a severely weakened state. He had cycled through the night to reach safety. Upon his arrival, the rescue team immediately readmitted him, providing counseling and support for reintegration into school.
The boy recounted the horrific conditions he had endured at Shakahola and pleaded for help in rescuing his younger brother, who had tragically died of starvation. His testimony offered a rare glimpse into the grim reality faced by children trapped in the cult-like environment.
Another witness, a private school principal, told the court how a GNI church member withdrew his two sons from school and took them to Shakahola. The children have not been seen since.
The testimonies continue to unfold, exposing a tragic saga of abuse, neglect, and loss, as the court prepares to hear from more witnesses in the coming days. The trial sheds light on the devastating consequences of the Shakahola massacre and the urgent need for justice for the missing children and their families.
