Family Reveals Paul Mackenzie's Taxi Driver Job Before Stint As Pastor

The family of controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie linked to the heinous Shakahola massacre in Malindi, Kilifi County came to his defence amidst a rising body count from his cult and revealed his previous job before he switched to ministering.

His younger brother, Robert Mackenzie, had refuted claims of Paul being responsible for the deaths in Shakahola after duping his followers to fast to death and that he took up farming after quitting the church in 2019.

Speaking to Citizen TV on Tuesday, April 25, Robert narrated his little-known occupation as a taxi driver before the preaching bug struck him.

"He started out as a taxi operator in Malindi; an occupation he held for a couple of years before receiving his spiritual calling," Robert said.

Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie's younger brother Robert Mackenzie during an interview on April 25, 2023. /CITIZEN TV

The calling saw Paul test himself in terms of ministering across different churches within Malindi but he collided with the founders of the churches to the point that he was kicked out of three of them. It was after that point that he started the Good News International (GNI) church.

As the older Mackenzie's ministry at GNI church grew, so did his controversial teachings that encouraged congregants to shun modern education and seek medical attention, among other things.

Some also questioned highly-discussed topics such as the Huduma Namba and the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) as well as the economic downturns that have led to a high cost of living.

However, his family denied that Paul's teachings were mandatory, apportioning blame instead to his congregants for adhering to and implementing them.

"My children go to school and they go to the hospital and Mackenzie has never forced me to have them do otherwise," said Robert.

"If you don't take your children to school then that's on you and not Mackenzie."

The family also denied Paul running away from his Malindi-based church to settle in Shakahola forest, instead revealing that he had approached them and told them that his God-ordained mission had ended in 2019 and that all he was doing was settling to farm in the fields that have turned into a point of focus for the tragedy that shocked the whole country and the world.

Paul's family was convinced that the controversial pastor was being targeted for malicious purposes despite 17 more bodies being exhumed from shallow graves in the 800-acre piece of land as of April 25, bringing the death toll in total to 90.

"I don't agree with the accusations. I know my brother well; there's no way he would kill and bury a person," added Robert.

The family went on to state that Paul was a model child growing up and was not capable of the crimes he is now being accused of.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday, April 25 recommended genocide charges be pronounced against pastor Mackenzie, condemning the actions of the proprietor of the Good News International Church in Malindi whose controversial teachings had led to the heinous act of his followers fasting to death.

On his part, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji vowed to prosecute the controversial preacher and his co-accused to the full extent of the law, also assuring that the controversial pastor would be charged with radicalisation and terrorism.

"The ODPP has directed investigation officers to identify the assets of the suspects herein for purposes of preservation, confiscation and forfeiture in accordance with the law," he directed in a statement.

President William Ruto had on Monday, April 24 termed the actions of Pastor Mackenzie as an act of terrorism, adding that the pastor was ordering Kenyans to undertake activities that are against the confines of the Constitution of Kenya.

"Look out for those who want to abuse even the religious sector by masquerading as religious people, yet what they do is contrary to the teachings and the beliefs of the religion, whether they are Christians, Muslims or any other religion.

"What we are witnessing in Kilifi, Shakahola is akin to terrorism. There is no difference between Mackenzie who pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal. Terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. People like Mr Mackenzie are using religion to do exactly the same thing," Ruto stated during the Prison Officers Pass Out Parade.

President William Ruto speaking during the Prison Officers Pass Out Parade on April 24, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO