Malindi pastor charged with brainwashing children

Malindi Pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge at the Malindi Chief Magistrates court on Monday. [Nehemiah Okwembah, Standard].

A pastor and televangelist has been charged with disobedience of the law, religious incitement and indoctrination of children.

Paul Mackenzie Nthenge denied the charges before Malindi Chief Magistrate Dr Julie Oseko on Monday.

The cleric was charged that on April 4 in Malindi township, he was found in possession of cinematopographic films intended to incite children against attending school.

Further, the court heard, the films incited Christians against Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

In the second count, he was charged with being in possession and distributing films to the public which had not been examined and classified by the Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB).

The court heard that between January 1, 2019 and April 11, 2019 at Good News International Church (GNIC) in Malindi, jointly with others not before court, he was found in possession and exhibition of films to the public through Times Television that had not been examined and classified.

He was also charged with operating a filming studio and producing films without valid film licence from KFCB.

It is alleged that on April 11, 2019 at GNIC jointly with others, he was found operating a filming studio and producing films for public consumption without first registering a film agent and acquiring filming licence.

The preacher has two other similar cases in the same court.

Oseko released him on a Sh1 million bond with an alternative of Sh500,000 cash bail.

The prosecution led by prosecuting counsel Alice Mathangani did not oppose  bond terms but wanted the accused not to be released on cash bail. Oseko, however, ruled that he was innocent until proven guilty.

She further transferred the case to another magistrate as she is already hearing two other cases the accused is facing.

The case will be on on May 9.