A prosecution witness in the ongoing Kwa Binzaro manslaughter case on Monday told a Mombasa court that he declined an invitation from his father to relocate to Shakahola, a decision that he believes spared him from the tragedy that later befell his family.
Testifying virtually before Senior Principal Magistrate Eric Wambo, the witness narrated how his family became followers of Pastor Paul Mackenzie's teachings after watching his sermons on TV while they were living in Migori County.
He said the teachings urged followers to avoid what was described as the "mark of the beast" and discouraged them from seeking medical treatment, insisting that illnesses should only be cured through prayer.
The witness further testified that the sermons portrayed formal education as part of a corrupt worldly system.
"He testified that in 2021, his father, a prison officer, resigned from the Kenya Prisons Service after embracing the teachings, believing that he could not "serve both the beast and the Lord," a statement by ODPP states.
As his father's beliefs deepened, he said he was invited to relocate with the rest of the family to Shakahola.
However, he declined the invitation, telling the court that he considered himself too young to make such a move.
His parents and siblings later relocated without him.
He testified that in March 2025, while he was living in Homa Bay County, his parents informed him that they were moving to Kisii.
The witness, however, said communication with his father abruptly stopped the following month after repeated attempts to reach him by phone proved unsuccessful.
The court heard that in June 2025, he received an anonymous phone call from a person he described as having a coastal accent.
The caller allegedly told him, "They have left us," words he interpreted to mean that his parents and siblings had died.
He testified that he has neither seen nor heard from any of his immediate family members since that conversation.
The witness further told the court that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) later contacted him and requested DNA samples to assist in identifying bodies recovered from Shakahola.
According to his testimony, investigators subsequently informed him that the DNA samples matched some of the bodies recovered from the area.
The prosecution also called two additional witnesses, including the father's elder brother.
The six accused persons—Pastor Paul Mackenzie, Shallyne Temba, Kahindi Garama, Tom Mkonwe, Julius Luwali and Johnson Richard—are jointly facing 29 counts of manslaughter.
The prosecution alleges that the accused jointly caused the deaths of 29 people between January and July 2025 at Kwa Binzaro Village in Chakama Location, Magarini Sub-County, Kilifi County.
The accused have denied the charges.
The hearing is scheduled to continue with further prosecution witnesses as the State builds its case.
