Police want Paul Mackenzie charged with Binzaro cult deaths

Controversial cult leader Paul Mackenzie will be enjoined in a case in which several suspects are being held over the Kwa Bi Nzaro village cult deaths, where victims are alleged to have died from starvation, Police in Malindi have said.

Detectives argue that the Kwa Bi Nzaro village cult is a continuation of the 2011–2023 Shakahola cult tragedy linked to Mackenzie, in which more than 400 people died.

The investigations into the Kwa Bi Nzaro cult case in Kilifi county have led to the recovery of 52 bodies.

On Friday, the Director of Public Prosecutions told the Malindi Magistrate’s Court that the state intends to consolidate files so that Mackenzie is enjoined in the case.

Senior Prosecution Counsel Racheal Omala told the court they are ready to charge Mackenzie.

Omala said investigators have established that Mackenzie was also involved in the Kwa Bi Nzaro cult and that the state is ready to charge him together with other suspects.

Police and the prosecution also filed an application seeking 14 more days to continue holding the nine suspects linked to the cult.

According to the state, four of the suspects should be taken for mental assessment at Malindi Sub-County Hospital before a final decision is made on their charges.

The suspects are Kahindi Kazungu Garama, Thomas Mukonwe, James Kahindi Kazungu and Sharleen Temba Anido.

Omala asked the court to order that the suspects be held at Malindi GK Prison pending their transfer to hospital for assessment.

She said detectives are investigating several offences committed against the deceased. These include radicalisation, facilitation of terrorist acts, engaging in organised criminal activity and murder.

Other suspects in the case include Jarius Otieno Oder, Lilian Akinyi, Kahonzi Katana Karisa, Loice Zawadi and Safari Kenga Nzai.

Advocate Lawrence Obonyo, appearing for the suspects, opposed the application. He said the suspects have been in custody for long and asked the court to order them to take plea.

The magistrate said a ruling would be delivered on Monday.

The developments came barely a week after one of the suspects in the Shakahola massacre case pleaded guilty to 191 counts of murder.

Enos Amanya, alias Haleluya, pleaded guilty to all the counts before Mombasa High Court Judge Diana Mochache. The offences were committed between January 2021 and September 2023.

During the proceedings, the names of 11 murdered children were read out in court, while the rest were identified by initials.

The children include Seth Hinzano Ngala, Evabra Dito Ngala, Sifa Edison, Nathan Mathu, Neema Robert, Joyce Amani, Stacy Hadama, Elna Mpa, Ejah Nyaleso, Sara Peter and Patience Kahindi.

Others were identified only by gender and grave sites where bodies were exhumed.

Superintendent of Police Martin Ndegwa presented a confession he recorded from Amanya.

Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina read the facts of the case, stating that Amanya, together with 29 others, murdered more than 191 children.

The prosecution said the murders were carried out as part of a suicide pact. The accused acted in concert with Mackenzie and others.

Amanya served as a grave digger and provided security at the Shakahola forest.

In his confession, bodies were referred to as “fertiliser” and burial as “planting,” while death was described as “taking a jet” to meet Jesus.

He told the court that followers shouted “Amina” to acknowledge the pastor’s teachings.

Amanya said his first child to die was Aaron Joshua, whose death he witnessed. He helped his wife, Anne Anyoso Alukhwe, carry the body, which was buried by Baba Esther and others.

He said the following day his son Ejah Nyaleso died at his wife’s house. He also witnessed the death of his child Senaida but did not witness the deaths of his other children.

He told the court that only one child, Israel Veronica, survived after declining to participate and leaving to seek employment.

Amanya said Mackenzie later declared that ‘entry’ into heaven required total obedience and that those who declined were punished.

The punishments involved tying victims with binding wire and beating them with sticks and tree branches until death.

After the facts were read, Amanya confirmed they were true, prompting Justice Mochache to convict him on his own plea of guilty.

The court directed that a victim impact assessment be conducted, including consideration of his surviving child.

The prosecution applied to present victim impact assessment reports to guide sentencing.

The defence was directed to file written mitigation to be highlighted orally, while a probation officer was ordered to prepare the victim impact assessment report.

The officer in charge of Shimo La Tewa Prison Maximum Security was directed to ensure the safety of the convict by isolating him from other Shakahola massacre suspects.

Pre-sentencing hearings for victims’ witnesses will be held from February 2 to 6, 2026.

After the guilty plea and conviction, the prosecution closed its Shakahola massacre murder case.

It had presented 120 witnesses, more than 500 exhibits and conducted six months of back-to-back hearings.

Justice Mochache allowed the prosecution to file written submissions, with highlighting scheduled for March 1 to 6, 2026.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The case signals a decisive shift by investigators to legally link the Kwa Bi Nzaro deaths to the wider Shakahola network. By seeking to enjoin Paul Mackenzie, prosecutors aim to collapse parallel files into a single narrative of radicalisation, coercion and organised criminality. Last week’s Amanya’s guilty plea strengthens the prosecution’s theory of a coordinated suicide pact and may influence future trials, sentencing and public confidence.