On Tuesday, April 25, a photo alleging that Pastor Paul Mackenzie attended one of the church services with First Lady Rachel Ruto went viral online.
The viral photo showed the first lady wearing the Maasai traditional attire while clapping next to Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu. Adjacent to the duo was who the doctored photo identified as the controversial Pastor Mackenzie.
However, Kenyans.co.ke can authoritatively confirm that the photo was edited to mislead the public.
Extensive research carried out by this media house established that Rachel Ruto first published the original photo on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 3.13 pm on her official Twitter account.
In the doctored photo, the head of the person standing next to Narok Governor Ntutu was removed and replaced with that of Pastor Mackenzie to hoodwink the public.
In the original photo shared by Rachel Ruto, the person standing next to Narok Governor in the front row had no beard and was dark in complexion, unlike the edited one.
The original photo was taken when Rachel joined residents during a church service at Word of Faith Church Olalui in Kilgoris, Narok County.
"In today's sermon at Word of Faith Church Olalui in Kilgoris, Narok County, the message focused on the significance of putting our beliefs into action rather than just having a belief in the abstract without any deeds to back it up
"May this coming week be a week of faith and actions," Rachel wrote at the time.
Mackenzie at State House
Another photo was also edited insinuating that Pastor Mackenzie attended a special prayer meeting at State House on September 25, 2022.
The photo replaced one of the guests wearing a checkered suit with the head of the controversial pastor.
The misleading photo went viral after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki vowed to clamp down on violent extremism in the country.
"It is true that by the time the law caught up with him he had caused a lot of harm. But for the lives lost and the hurt and pain he has inflicted on the nation and humanity, he will pay dearly. They will pay with the most painful and severest punishment available. We do not expect that Mackenzie will get out of jail for the rest of his life," Kindiki insisted.
His sentiments came after 89 bodies were exhumed at Shakahola, Malindi, Kilifi County. Ruto also reprimanded the priest, equating his actions to terrorism.
