A family from Butere, Kakamega County, has called for controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie to be jailed for 900 years, saying his 200-year prison sentence does not adequately reflect the suffering they endured after losing their loved ones in the Shakahola tragedy.
The family, led by elderly patriarch Mzee Joshua Okaka, says Mackenzie’s teachings left them devastated after four of their relatives reportedly died while following his religious movement.
Speaking in an interview with a local news outlet, Okaka narrated how his family became entangled in Mackenzie’s Good News International Church, leading to a heartbreaking series of events that changed their lives forever.
According to Okaka, the ordeal began when his son, Keya, relocated to Nairobi with his wife, Alice Nyongesa Keya, in search of better opportunities.
While in the city, Alice was reportedly introduced to Mackenzie’s teachings by a friend whose television was broadcasting the preacher’s sermons.
She subsequently developed an interest in the teachings and travelled to Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County to join the religious movement.
Alice allegedly tried convincing her husband to embrace Mackenzie’s teachings, but he disagreed and urged her to abandon the practices.
The disagreements eventually saw the couple return to their rural home in Marama, Butere constituency.
However, Alice reportedly maintained communication with Mackenzie and continued following his teachings.
Okaka recalled becoming increasingly concerned about her behaviour, particularly her prolonged prayers and the alleged fasting involving the children.
He explained that his son had confronted Alice after noticing that she was reportedly denying the children food as part of the religious practices.
Despite the family’s concerns, Alice allegedly travelled back to Shakahola with her five children, who were aged between three and 13 years.
The family later became worried after losing communication with Alice and the children, with their phone line reportedly going off.
Their fears intensified when news emerged that authorities were investigating mysterious deaths in Shakahola Forest and had arrested Mackenzie.
Okaka disclosed that the family struggled to travel to Kilifi to establish what had happened to their missing relatives because of financial difficulties.
In a desperate attempt to find them, Alice’s father reportedly sold his cow to raise money for the journey.
Unfortunately, the search ended in heartbreak after the family managed to identify Alice and three of her children, whose remains were subsequently buried.
Two other children remained missing, leaving the family without definitive answers about their whereabouts.
The elderly grandfather said he would welcome the children whether they returned alive or their remains were recovered, highlighting the uncertainty the family continues to endure.
The tragedy also affected the surviving members of the family.
Okaka revealed that the two children who did not travel to Shakahola, Joshua Keya and Fridah Keya, had dropped out of school following the family’s financial and emotional difficulties.
He appealed for assistance, saying the family needed support to rebuild their lives after losing their relatives.
Against this painful background, Okaka said he appreciated the court’s decision to sentence Mackenzie to 200 years in prison but believed the punishment should have been much heavier.
He argued that a 900-year sentence would better reflect the magnitude of the suffering experienced by affected families.
His remarks came after the High Court in Mombasa sentenced Mackenzie to 200 years in prison following his conviction over the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children and one adult.
The court imposed two separate 100-year prison terms relating to different murder convictions, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively.
Mackenzie’s deputy, Smart Deri Mwakalama, was handed a 160-year prison sentence, while other co-accused persons received varying terms depending on their individual involvement.
The Shakahola tragedy shocked Kenya and attracted international attention in April 2023 when authorities began uncovering bodies in the forest near Malindi.
Investigations revealed that followers of Mackenzie’s church had allegedly been encouraged to undertake extreme fasting practices in preparation for what they were told would be salvation.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported that 448 bodies had been recovered from Shakahola Forest, making the incident one of the country’s most devastating religious-related tragedies.
The investigation also raised serious questions about the protection of vulnerable people, the welfare of children and the oversight of religious institutions.
Mackenzie’s case became a major national conversation about the dangers of religious manipulation and the need to protect individuals from exploitation by people claiming spiritual authority.
For the Butere family, however, the court proceedings have not erased the pain of losing their relatives.
While the 200-year sentence represents a significant legal development, Okaka says the family is still struggling with the consequences of the tragedy, including the missing children, emotional trauma and financial difficulties.
The grandfather’s demand for a 900-year sentence reflects the frustration of a family that believes the suffering caused by the Shakahola tragedy cannot easily be measured in years behind bars.
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