Victim's father: Pastor Mackenzie made followers burn academic documents, said education is evil

A victim's father told the court on Monday that his son was introduced to Mackenzie's church, Good News International, through a referral from one of his former schoolmates in high school

He said that his son, who was undertaking a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at the Technical University of Mombasa, was forced to drop his pursuit of education and joined Mackenzie in Shakahola.

"When he questioned his son on why he no longer took education seriously, he said that the world was coming to an end and there was no need to continue with education which was an earthly and evil affair," he said before Principal Magistrate Leah Juma.

He further noted that attempts to reach his son remained futile and could only make contact if the son called.

It was only when he was notified that his son was admitted to a hospital in Malindi that he learnt of the grave dealings the cult was taking its followers through.

He said that he found his son, a former rugby player, completely malnourished and could barely speak.

He later learnt that all Mackenzie's followers were encouraged to burn their academic documents under the influence that education is evil and it is not in heaven.

In the case, Mackenzie, along with 95 co-accused, faces charges including terrorism, child cruelty, radicalization, murder, and violating the Basic Education Act. Prosecutors say these occurred over the years 2020 to 2023.

He was arrested in April last year after several bodies were first discovered in the remote Shakahola forest that lies inland from the Indian Ocean town of Malindi.

Rescuers spent many months searching the scrubland and have now unearthed around 429 bodies from mass graves.