A minor emotionally narrated to a Mombasa court how his late mother forced him and his siblings to convert from Islam to Christianity after controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie allegedly healed him from a bizarre illness.
The young boy was testifying against Mackenzie and 94 others, who are charged with 238 counts of manslaughter related to the Shakahola massacre.
He told Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku that his late mother had immense faith in Mackenzie after he was healed from a disease that had persisted despite numerous treatments, compelling him and his sister to convert to Christianity.
The court heard that the minor’s illness had lingered despite various medications, but after prayers by Mackenzie, he recovered. This prompted his mother to force them to convert to Christianity, despite their father’s objections.
He also told the court that his mother had disappeared twice without notice before they learned of her death due to fasting in Shakahola.
He recounted that they discovered their mother was attending Mackenzie’s church after she returned home the second time, having lost a significant amount of weight.
“That’s when we realized that she was fasting after attending Pastor Mackenzie’s services,” he told the court.
The boy further recognized Mackenzie and his wife, Rhodha Muweu, as the proprietors of his late mother’s church. He also identified another accused person in court, who he claimed had once tied him up and beaten him mercilessly in his mother’s presence for refusing to attend their church.
The hearing of the matter will continue on September 9, 2024.
