Witness recounts discovery of weak individuals at Kwa Binzaro

The Mombasa High Court has heard testimony that individuals found at Kwa Binzaro in Kilifi County were in frail and deteriorating condition, in the ongoing murder trial involving controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused.

According to a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), five witnesses testified about what they observed at the remote homestead where the alleged activities took place.

One witness told the court that, after receiving reports from local authorities about a religious group operating in the area, he visited the Kwa Binzaro property and found several individuals in visibly poor health. He described them as weak and unable to move freely, raising concern about their welfare.

Another witness, a local administrator, corroborated the account, stating that upon visiting the site with other officials, they encountered individuals who appeared malnourished and critically ill. The witness said the conditions at the homestead suggested prolonged deprivation, with those present showing signs consistent with starvation.

A separate witness recounted an encounter with a man who appeared disoriented and physically weak.

"He requested to use her phone to contact a friend and claimed he was lost while in the company of another individual. She assisted him by providing access to her phone, and he shared two contact numbers," the ODPP said.

The court was also told that local efforts to intervene intensified after concerns were raised about the condition of those living at the property.

One witness testified that he later visited the homestead under the guise of conducting a routine activity, during which he confirmed the presence of individuals at the site. He said he was alarmed by what he observed and alerted authorities.

Subsequently, local administrators and police officers visited the scene. The court heard that upon their arrival, some individuals fled the homestead, while others remained behind in weakened condition. Efforts were made to access locked sections of the property, with witnesses stating that certain structures had been secured, restricting movement.

A minor identified by the initials N.K. told the court she grew up in Malindi with her family and was a follower of Good News International Ministries, whose teachings discouraged education and medical care.

"She testified that she was a follower of Good News International Ministries (GNI) in Furunzi, whose teachings discouraged formal education and medical treatment and emphasised ' “end times' doctrines," the statement reads.

"As a result, she dropped out of school in Grade 5 and joined her mother in selling watermelons."

The testimonies form part of the prosecution’s case as it seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged activities at Kwa Binzaro.

The hearing is set to continue on May 18, 2026, as the prosecution lines up more witnesses.