Shakahola: 6 Children from Same Family Feared Dead Amid Fresh Wave of Cult Practices
- A new wave of religious cult practices linked to pastor Paul Mackenzie has been reported at Chakama Ranch in Kilifi county
- A man and his wife shared a chilling confession about the death of their six children, who survived the first Shakahola massacre
- The couple, currently under police custody, narrated how the controversial pastor has been operating his cultic practices even while behind bars
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Kilifi—There is fear that cultic practices linked to controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie have returned at Shakahola despite the ongoing case.
Source: Getty Images
In the latest report, six children from one family who survived the first Shakahola massacre are feared dead following a new way of cultic practice in Kilifi.
How did the Siaya family return to Shakahola?
Preliminary investigations show the six were recently buried in a settlement within Kwa Binzaro village, inside Chakama Ranch.
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According to Citizen Digital, the six have been identified as Flora (15), Mary (14), Christine (10), Shadrach (6), Esther (4), and one-year-old Tonny.
They were part of a family of eight that had initially been rescued from Shakahola in 2023 and relocated to Siaya, where they had been staying for the last two years before relocating back to Kilifi.
Jairus, the head of the family, allegedly lied to his extended family, claiming he had secured employment in Bondo
However, when he boarded the bus with his wife, Lilian Atieno and children, he headed back to Kilifi to rejoin the controversial religious sect instead of going to Bondo as expected by his relatives.
On Saturday, July 19, Jairus and Lilian were among four people who were rescued and later arrested from Chakama Ranch.
Does Paul Mackenzie still run his church?
A close relative who managed to talk to the couple in police custody revealed that they confessed that their children are dead.
"To be honest, the children are dead, because he confirmed it to me himself. When I found him at the police station, I was given the opportunity to ask him. He said the children are dead and were buried. His wife also told me that her children are dead," said the relative.
The couple disclosed that Mackenzie has been operating his cultic practices through phone call even while in jail.
They said the cult in Shakahola remains active, as Mackenzie keeps luring his followers to their death.
"This ideology is continuing, and it's not like Mackenzie is in jail. He has his followers out there, he is in jail and he is operating with a phone. When I was in the DCI, I asked him when do you want to die, he said if you are imprisoned, Mackenzie is the one praying for you on the phone he uses in jail. Now this week he ran away and sought help because they were looking for him to kill him because he changed after his children died," added the relative.
Source: Getty Images
How many people were rescued in Chakama Ranch?
In related development, police launched investigations following reports of three people being buried in Binzaro village, Chakama location.
In the ongoing probe, police rescued four people who were forced to fast amid fears of the return of cultic practices.
The police operation followed a public tip-off about strange goings-on within a secluded five-acre compound, which was allegedly being used for cultic purposes.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
