Paul Mackenzie's woes intensified after the state preferred a new charge against him on Friday, June 23.
While appearing before the court in Malindi, Kilifi County, Mackenzie of the Good News International Church was accused of violating laws relating to film classification.
The prosecution alleged that the controversial deacon was accused of distributing films to the public without a valid licence from the Kenya Film Classification Board (KCFB) in 2019.
Irene Tamara, the presiding judge at Malindi Court, heard that Mackenzie targeted children through his Times TV, allegedly inciting them against attending school.
Mackenzie was further accused of violating broadcasting codes issued by the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA).
The government revived the case against the Good News International Church pastor after establishing that he denied the same accusations in April 2019. Mackenzie was then released on a Ksh500,000 cash bond.
A Kilifi County correspondent who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke concurred that Mackenzie was arraigned alongside several of his followers who were apprehended after the government launched investigations into the Shakahola massacre.
"It is true he appeared in court today (Friday, June 30). However, his lawyer contested the charge, which was raised by the prosecution for mentioning," he stated.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki had asked the prosecution to level genocide charges against Mackenzie and later threatened to detain him for life.
“We have also involved the director of survey to make sure that the entire Chakama ranch is combed. We are contemplating charging Makenzi and his aides with genocide and other human crime offences,“ Kindiki stated.
Conversely, President William Ruto described Mackenzie's case as an act of terrorism while vowing to institute stringent measures against the preacher.
"What we are seeing in Kilifi is akin to terrorism. Terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. People like him are using religion to do exactly the same thing," Ruto lamented.
The Head of State, however, formed a commission of inquiry to investigate and formulate new laws to regulate religious institutions. Lady Justice Jessie Lesiit was appointed to lead the team comprising Lady Justice (Rtd.) Mary Muhanji Kasango, Eric Gumbo, Bishop Catherine Mutua, Dr. Jonathan Lodompui, Dr. Frank Njenga, Wanyama Musiambu and Albert Musasia.
On Thursday, June 29, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General, Ezra Chiloba, released new guidelines affecting broadcasters in a move to regulate the publication of religious content.
Among them were media houses unveiling mechanisms protecting the masses from consuming content featuring superstitious and pseudo-scientific beliefs and airing content that does not influence the audience's beliefs.
As of June 2023, police had exhumed 338 plus bodies from Shakahola Forest.
