Pastor Mackenzie Denies Link to Binzaro Cult After Human Skulls Found in Kilifi

Ongoing investigations into the Shakahola forest massacre have intensified following the discovery of human remains in Binzaro village, Kilifi County, raising renewed concerns about the influence of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie. 

Mackenzie, through his legal representative Wycliffe Makasembo, has denied any connection to the latest incident where police arrested three individuals and rescued three others after unearthing two human skulls and a body. Makasembo urged caution regarding claims that one of the suspects was a follower of Mackenzie, saying that these allegations are currently under investigation. He emphasised that the incident occurred outside Mackenzie’s known area of operation.

The discovery in Binzaro comes as Mackenzie faces a litany of charges, including murder, terrorism, and child cruelty, for his alleged role in the Shakahola cult. Authorities allege that between January 2021 and September 2023, Mackenzie coerced members of his Good News International Church to starve themselves to death in anticipation of an apocalyptic event.

The scale of the Shakahola tragedy continues to unfold, with the exhumation of 448 bodies as of June 2024. A significant number of the victims were children . Autopsies have revealed that while starvation was the primary cause of death, some victims also suffered blunt force trauma, suffocation, and strangulation. 

The Kenya Red Cross reports that over 600 individuals remain missing, suggesting the final death toll could climb higher.