Witnesses on Kwa Binzaro starvation case tell harrowing tales following Makenzis persuasion

Detectives after exhuming bodies from mass graves near Kwa Binzaro village in Kilifi county.[Standard-File]

Followers of Paul Makenzi recounted harrowing experiences of prolonged starvation, confinement and psychological manipulation at the Kwa Binzaro settlement in Kilifi County.

Two key prosecution witnesses yesterday took to the dock with testimonies that sought to demonstrate how followers of Makenzi’s Good News International Church were allegedly lured with promises of going to heaven through fasting, only to endure extreme suffering.

Makenzi, alongside Shallyne Temba, Kahindi Garama, Tom Mkonwe, Julius Luwali and Johnson Richard, face 29 counts of manslaughter.

The accused persons are alleged to have jointly caused the deaths of 29 people between January and July 2025 at Kwa Binzaro in Chakama Location, Magarini Sub-County, Kilifi County, just a few kilometres from Shakahola forest where another group of followers had perished earlier through starvation.

A 60-year-old woman identified as KK and testifying under witness protection, told the Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate's Court that she had been a member of Good News International Church in Furunzi, Malindi, for 10 years before relocating to Kwa Binzaro after being persuaded that fasting would secure her entry into heaven.

She testified that she sold her sewing machine for Sh7,000 to facilitate the journey to the remote settlement.

On arrival, she and other followers were locked inside a house for seven days without food or water.

According to the witness, the room contained only a bucket to serve as a toilet for those confined inside.

"On the seventh day, I started shouting and asking for water because I could no longer continue praying," she told the court.

The witness further testified that during church teachings, Makenzi repeatedly preached that the world was coming to an end and discouraged his followers from seeking education or medical treatment, describing both as evil.

She also told the court that women were prohibited from plaiting their hair or wearing make-up because such practices were allegedly unbiblical.

Followers were equally discouraged from registering for Huduma Numbers, which they were allegedly told were contrary to God's plan.

Prosecution also presented an emotional testimony from an 18-year-old witness identified as NK, whose identity was similarly protected by the court.

She testified that co-accused Shallyne Temba repeatedly visited her family's home and persuaded her mother to relocate to Kwa Binzaro for prayer and fasting in preparation for heaven.

According to the witness, she later spoke directly to Makenzi through Temba's mobile phone while he was being held at Shimo la Tewa Maximum Security Prison.

"The phone was passed to me, and I told Makenzi that I was ready to fast. He told me that time was running out and that we needed to hurry," she testified.

NK told the court that after fasting for seven days, she became too weak to continue and requested to return home.

However, she said co-accused Kahindi Garama refused her request, telling her she was too weak to leave because people would question where she had been.

“My mother and I broke our fast because we could no longer endure the starvation. I heard the conversation over a loudspeaker and recognised Makenzi's voice,” the witness told the court.

She told the court that Makenzi instructed her to cooperate with the accused persons so that she could regain her strength before returning home.

 However, the accused persons allegedly continued persuading her to resume fasting.

The witness also narrated that when she repeatedly demanded water and banged on the door in protest, she was tied by her arms and legs before eventually being untied after her mother's intervention.

In an emotional statement before the court, the witness lamented the opportunities she lost after dropping out of school.

"I wish I had the opportunity to go to school and get a good education like you and become someone important in society. It pains me to see your client following these proceedings because he greatly contributed to my dropping out of school," she said.