The Chakama farm in Shakahola village, not far from Kilifi, is where the followers of Pastor Paul MacKenzie, who had been praying and fasting to the point of starvation, were discovered by authorities.
There have been 39 bodies retrieved from graves thus far. According to recently discovered details, in 2020 Pastor Paul MacKenzie approached the Shakahola village leaders and begged for a plot of land to cultivate. He lied to the elders about his plans for the Chakama ranch, yet they nevertheless granted him the land.
At first, only Pastor MacKenzie inhabited the house. However, when more and more people began to show up to the site, the locals became curious as to what was going on. A few children whose parents had taken them to the ranch escaped and told the adults that they had been forced to fast.
The youngsters said that they would be severely beaten, bound with ropes, and even threatened with death if they were caught begging for food. Also, they had to abstain from food for a period of time.
The congregation of Pastor Paul MacKenzie frequented the Shakahola commercial center between 2020 and 2021. They’d go home to their families and ask for cash, saying they needed it for a business deal in Kilifi. In 2022, however, the commercial hub saw a dramatic drop in foot traffic.
The shopkeeper observed a significant drop in the number of women patronizing the center and the number of women bringing children. The women were unreceptive to questions about what was going on at the ranch.
Visitors to Shakahola who were previously in good health had dramatic weight loss. Pastor MacKenzie’s followers successfully warded off any locals who dared to enter the site.
Male adherents reportedly torched two motorcycles belonging to youths trying to enter the jungle at one point. The sad events that unfolded on the Chakama property in Shakahola village highlight the perils of religious fanaticism and the importance of remaining vigilant to safeguard vulnerable people.
