Untold story of Makenzi's push against vaccination, Huduma number

Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused listen to the judgement during their court appearance at the Mombasa Law Courts in Mombasa on October 19, 2026. [AFP]

Text messages from Shakahola cult leader Paul Makenzi’s mobile phones paint a man who was keen on having his followers follow his directives without question.

In one, a curious follower asks him what he thinks about the Covid-19 virus and he replies that it is his secret.

As Facebook and other social media sites began flagging fake news about misinformation on the virus, a follower sent a message to the preacher saying that one of their posts had been flagged.

In the post, the follower had posted gory photos showing effects of the vaccine and Makenzi says the flagging was because those behind the vaccines could not accept the effects being exposed.

In another message, a follower asks the preacher that since the government and religious organizations were telling people to clean their hands with soap and running water to help stop the spread of the virus, if Jesus Christ could make clean water to come to them while carrying the virus.

He firmly believed that the government and companies had conspired to lie to people about the virus, in a message shared by a follower from a telco saying that the virus was spreading through droplets Makenzi says that they were lying.

Makenzi, who is now awaits sentencing after he was found guilty of 191 murder charges, also claimed that Italy was severely punished by God through the virus after a follower told him that even though the virus originated from China and the country which is far, had recorded a high number of deaths.

In court, he, alongside other members of his Good News International Church denied any wrongdoing. They instead claimed persecution by the government.

He said that the deaths were a result of Satan since his throne is in Italy.

The man supported the move by the government asking people to stay at their homes to help slow the spread of the virus in line with Isaiah 26:20.

The verse is in reference to God’s punishment and wrath. It cautions the Israelites to get to their houses and lock themselves in until the wrath ends.

Makenzi, nevertheless, cautioned that the house being referred to in the verse was the body of a human being and that staying at home meant praying, not hiding.

After he went silent for some time, a  follower texted him asking why he had been silent, and the preacher said that the time for talking was over and that he was not preparing for the return of Jesus Christ.

Another follower asked the preacher why Spain, Italy and France had recorded a high number of COVID-19-related deaths yet the countries were clean.

Makenzi answered, “You see, they are physically clean but not spiritually. That's their problem.”

He was skeptical about the low number of new infections and deaths that were being recorded in China, saying he did not believe the statistics that were being released by the Chinese government.

Another message shows that one of the followers identified as Alvin who questions why people in another WhatsApp group were saying that diseases are the works of the kingdom of darkness.

Makenzi says that Alvin should ask them who created Satan and for what purpose.

In another instance he says that he knew of several people who had died by suicide due to the virus.

He said that he did not have an answer as to what his followers should do since the government was forcing its citizens to wear a mask instead saying that Jesus should give them wisdom on what to do.

He believed that the cases of the coronavirus would continue to rise, the Church would be taken over by unnamed people and a sword fight would break out.

Makenzi went further to advise a follower that the many ways the government was using to test the virus was a hidden way to achieve their own agenda of pushing the mark of the beast.

In one of his many moves, Makenzi sought to have his followers not obey what the government of the day was telling its citizen.

A follower asks him what is the true meaning of 1 Peter 2:11-18 and if the verses call for one to obey the government.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war on your flesh,” the verse reads in part.

In the verse, the author continues to urge the church to submit itself, for the Lord’s sake, to every human authority, show respect, love the family of believers, fear God and honour the emperor.

“ Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh,” it continues.

In his reply, the preacher says that the verse had been changed by the Illuminati for their own good.

This fits into the narrative from other messages by his followers that the preacher had told his followers not read the Bible.

In one instance, he told one of the people who had asked him whether it was okay to get vaccinated as a precondition of working that he should abandon the opportunity and ‘to live with Jesus alone.’

The conversation pits science against religion, with Makenzi and his followers opting to rely on God for defiance.

“Pastor, I am Gilbert from Kisii, and I am born again through your message about Jesus. I have not been injected with Corona vaccine, but I have been told that if I want a job, I have to be injected first. but I do not want to be vaccinated, but I want the job, I want your advice,” the message sent on December 1, 2022 read in part.

The pastor’s reply was short: just let that opportunity slide.

A Mary from Bungoma also contributed to the conversation. She told him that there were some in her area that had already received the vaccine, including a house help to a bishop. He said that the consequences would be seen later.

His phone had messages of ‘vaccine accidents’ where persons had been reportedly taken ill or dead following vaccination.

In one of the messages sent to a group of 24 on November 17, 2021, the author was praying that Jesus would help them find a place of escape or for them to accept to lose life to avoid being vaccinated.

“ All this will be impossible without Jesus,” the message from one Mama Anna reads.

In response, Makenzi tells her that he knows she has challenges, but it will be clear in the coming days.

Other messages were about protests against the issuance of passports to only those who had been vaccinated, while others were about the COVID-19 vaccine having ‘ a microchip’ in it. In one of the messages, it was alleged thar there were protests in Oxford, London.

He claimed that the prophecy had been fulfilled as school-going children were also getting vaccinated.

On November 28, 2021, Makenzi received a text message requesting for an ‘interpretation of a dream.’ The writer claimed that he had dreamt being in school and doing exams now and then but every time he was unable to answer.

 Makenzi told him that he was in a class of faith and he was not doing well.

The author pressed him to elaborate further.

He further told him that for him to succeed in faith, he needed to pull up his socks, then asked if he had taken a vaccine jab.

The writer was in Saudi Arabia at the time. He said he had received one, as it was a condition in the Arab country that one must have a vaccine to enter or exit.

 Makenzi told him that the vaccine was the reason he was getting the dreams.

In their conversation, the writer also alleged that after the vaccine, his hand was always getting numb. He said he had not healed well.  Makenzi replied to him that it was a microchip in his body. He replied: “ I am dead alive.”

According to Makenzi, Huduma Namba, the vaccines were all marks of the beast.

Another one, Kijana Mureithi from Nairobi, expressed his fears about being forced to get the jab. He asked if he declined to for vaccine or by mistake found the persons who were vaccinating at his house, if he declined, there was a chance that they would give him a chance to choose between being killed or tortured.

The response was that he would be sorted instantly.

Pressed further to explain what he meant, Makenzi told him to wait and see. He, however, asserted that he did not tell Mureithi that he would be forcefully vaccinated.