Malindi court has sentenced controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie to one year in prison for operating a studio and producing films without a licence.
In the ruling, Malindi Senior Resident Magistrate Olga Onalo deemed that the video content, produced in 2019, was not approved by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB).
The controversial pastor linked to the Shakahola deaths was also denied an option to pay a fine.
Additionally, Magistrate Onalo also slapped the pastor with another six-month jail term for airing the video content on television without having a licence. Onalo stated that the jail terms would run simultaneously.
According to the Magistrate, Mackenzie has the right to appeal the ruling within 14 days from the date of delivering the judgment.
Last month, the High Court found the pastor guilty of the offences after the prosecution provided sufficient evidence to convict him.
"One Paul Mackenzie has been found guilty of being in possession and distributing films which have not been classified and operating a filming studio without a valid filming licence. Prosecution's Joseph Mwangi proved the case,"
The prosecution accused the pastor of airing films that incited students to leave school, among other controversial doctrines.
Mackenzie was also linked to the deaths of over 400 followers in Shakahola.
A report filed by Assistant Director of Probation in Mombasa Nick Makuu explained that the pastor was convicted and fined for similar charges in 2017.
He was, however, acquitted of charges relating to radicalisation as well as operating educational institutions that were not registered.
