Mass suicide fears among Makenzie sect amid ongoing case

State agencies at the Coast are on high alert, fearful that controversial preacher Paul Makenzi and other survivors of Shakahola doomsday cult that has claimed 425 lives might be planning mass suicide.

The fears are borne out of the fact that Makenzi had declared August as the last month for the followers of fast to meet Jesus before the annihilation of the world.

Several survivors of the cult said the preacher told them children were the first to die by the end of April, women end of June, and men end of July before Makenzi and his wife in August.

Some 65 members of the quasi-religious cult were rescued from Shakahola forest where they were fasting to "go and meet Jesus in heaven".

Indeed, Makenzi told Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda that he had not eaten since he was separated from his co-accused, fearing that he could be poisoned.

He told the court that he was being persecuted by the state. He said he was in solitary confinement at Shimo La Tewa Prisons and pleaded with the court to help him.

 Some of the 28 women who were among the 64 survivors of the Shakahola massacre appeared before Shanzu Law Courts on Aug 4, 2023. [Robert Menza, Standard]

Prosecutor Alexander Jamii accused Makenzi of attempting to start a church in prison where he has been with 17 of his staunch followers.

Jamii said that Makenzi wanted to be close to his followers so he can continue to preach and prophesy to them how they shall be released from detention after the lapse of 10 days.

"He is being mischievous and wants to be close to his followers so he can turn the prison into a church where he can continue to preach to other followers how the tribulations they are going through shall end as he had prophesied earlier," said Jamii.

However, Makenzi refuted the accusations and asked the court to order CCTV footage to be produced to show where he ever conducted a church service.