The child testified that Mackenzie told his followers to give up work, education and other worldly pursuits, contrary to the well-known teaching of the Scriptures: “If you don’t want to work, you shouldn’t be allowed to eat.” She reported that Mackenzie often interpreted his followers’ dreams as instructions from God to continue fasting and praying without ceasing.

The witness further said she saw six people, including a child, die next to her makeshift house in the Shakahola jungle. She described the horrific deaths of some victims who were buried in small graves deep in the forest. Mackenzie is said to have called this custom “harusi” or weddings, a metaphor for the journey to meet Jesus.

Among those she saw in the Shakahola forest, the prosecution witness recognised 83 of the 94 accused. Some of them served as Mackenzie’s armed militiamen, whose duty it was to protect them from intruders, particularly residents and herders in Furunzi in Lango Baya, Malindi Sub-County.

Hamara Hassan, the former head of the Lango Baya police station, told the court that Mackenzie had previously complained to the police about a number of incidents, including an accusation of defamation after a woman claimed he was responsible for transporting and killing people in the jungle.

Following the operation, 15 severely weakened followers were found, three of whom died during rescue attempts.