The controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie has been defended by musician Alex Apoko, better known as Ringtone, over the Shakahola deaths.
The gospel musician asserted in an interview with Kenyan Youtuber Nickolas Kioko that he is certain that Mackenzie’s supposed followers who allegedly fasted themselves to death went to heaven.
“Mimi naeza sema Mackenzie kwangu kama Ringtone sioni akiwa na makosa. Kwa sababu aliambia watu wafast na wakafast. Mimi niko sure wale watu ambao Mackenzie aliambia wafast, wote wameenda mbinguni,” Ringtone said.
He claimed that individuals who fasted and gave away everything they owned had great faith.
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Ringtone continued, saying that people who criticized Mackenzie’s disciples who fasted would not enter heaven because they were not prepared to give up their material possessions.
“Hao watu ambao sisi tunaopiga kelele wengi wetu hatutaenda mbinguni, na hatuko tayari kuacha maisha yetu mazuri, magari yetu, manyumba zetu nzuri, manguo zetu nzuri, tuweze kufuata Mungu,” Ringtone noted.
Adding:
“Mimi kama mtu ambaye naamini kwamba Mungu yupo na Yesu ndiye njia na uzima, mimi naamini tu watu wasimpige sana mchungaji. Mchungaji yeye aliweza kusaidia wale waumini wakaweza kuchukua imani yao kwa level tofauti.”
Shakahola death toll hits 98
Yesterday, eight more bodies were found in Shakahola village in Kilifi County on wednesday bringing the total number of those exhumed since Friday, April 21, to 95.
Coast regional coordinator Rhoda Onyancha confirmed that eight more bodies of children were exhumed near cult leader Paul Mackenzie’s homestead in the forest.
And Wednesday morning, police barred members of the press from going into the Shakahola forest.
The 800-acre land is allegedly owned by cult leader Paul Mackenzie, who has been urging his followers to fast to death with the promise that they will meet Jesus.
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And on Tuesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki indicated that what happened at Mackenzie’s church was ‘the tip of the iceberg’.
“The government admits this should not have happened. We have opened a formal inquiry on another religious organisation based in Kilifi County. We are getting leads that perhaps what was being done at Mackenzie’s was just the tip of the iceberg. The net has been cast wider to all other associates and collaborators of Mackenzie’s evil,” Prof Kindiki said when he visited the farm.
