Man blames Makenzi for the death of his family

Paul Makenzi with his lawyer Lawrence Obonyo at Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa on Monday July 8, 2024. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

A 61-year-old man testified that controversial preacher Paul Makenzi "crippled" his life after he lost most of his family members, including the primary breadwinner, in the tragic events at Shakahola in Kilifi County.

Titus Ngonyoa said his son Isaac, a General Service Unit (GSU) officer, his other son Harry, a university student in Mombasa, and his wife Esther Biria Masha all perished during the cult-like fasting in Shakahola Forest.

Ngonyoa, a member of Calvary Church, recalled the day his eldest son Isaac failed to return to work, stating that he had decided his job was unnecessary.

According to Ngonyoa, Isaac had returned home for what was supposed to be an eight-day stay but extended his time after going to Shakahola. When Ngonyoa inquired, Isaac told him that his faith no longer allowed him to work for a "payslip job."

Ngonyoa also noticed that his other son, Harry, was no longer attending school, despite Ngonyoa's struggles to raise tuition fees.

Harry explained that education was not part of God's plan and that he would instead take on menial jobs.

Ngonyoa blamed his late wife, Esther, for introducing their children to Good News International, Makenzi's church, when it was based in Furunzi, Malindi, Kilifi County. He told the court that his wife first joined the church between 2018 and 2019.

"I had come back home from Kamale in Magarini and found my wife preparing to go to church. She welcomed me, prepared tea, and then told me she was leaving for church. I was surprised, as we already had a church nearby, but she insisted on going to the one in Furunzi. I wondered how her faith had become so strict," Ngonyoa told the court.

He was testifying before Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku in a case where Makenzi and 92 others face manslaughter charges. Ngonyoa recounted that after his wife joined Makenzi's church, she began praying for hours, often leaving him alone in bed. He recognized one of the accused, Evans, who would pick up his late wife on a motorcycle to take her to Makenzi's church.