Shakahola massacre key suspect Paul Mackenzie in police custody. /FILE
Shakahola massacre key suspect Paul Mackenzie has denied involvement in a new case of religious radicalisation unearthed in Kilifi county, where several people were arrested and human remains recovered this week.
Authorities arrested three suspects and rescued four others — three women and a man — from a bushy compound in Binzaro village, Chakama Ranch, located a few kilometres from the notorious Shakahola Forest.
Two human skulls and a body, believed to be fresh, were discovered at the site.
The area lies near where more than 400 members of the Good News International Ministries, allegedly radicalised by Mackenzie, were found buried after starving themselves to death in 2023.
Mackenzie has been in custody since March 2023 and is facing multiple charges related to terrorism, manslaughter, and radicalisation.
On Friday, his legal team dismissed any link between him and the latest discovery.
“There are claims that one of them was a follower (of Good News International Ministries), but those are matters that are currently in the hands of investigative agencies. Anyone can claim that they are followers of a certain church,” said a lawyer representing Mackenzie.
“For now, I cannot say with certainty that anyone was a congregant at his church. Besides, from what we are hearing, that place is very far from where Mackenzie used to live so we can't for now link the two.”
The lawyer questioned how Mackenzie could be implicated in recent incidents while still in custody.
“We are also wondering, it’s been more than two-and-a-half years since Mackenzie was arrested and cases against him are still ongoing in court. How is it possible that he’s in custody and is still being linked to what is currently happening on the outside?” the lawyer posed.
On allegations of religious radicalisation, the lawyer declined to comment, saying the matter was before the courts.
“It would be sub judice for me to speak about issues that are still before court. Courts are still trying to determine whether any form of radicalisation happened. But what we can say for now is that Mackenzie was a preacher of God’s word.”
The lawyer further clarified that Mackenzie completed a separate jail sentence on July 31 last year for allegedly failing to take his children to school.
