1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,200 From the unexplained to the mundane, come join us on a journey to the fringe. 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:17,680 Hello and welcome to Journey to the Fringe, Equal Parts Mental Exercise and Jump Food. 3 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:21,280 Kind of like competitive eating, maybe being a backup on a beer league team. 4 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,120 I think that's the physical version of our stuff. 5 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,120 We are your paradoxical hosts, Taylor and Chelsea. 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,200 Here today, bringing you a little bit of news out of Africa. 7 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:38,480 Now, Chelsea, I assume you're kind of on the same side as me, unless it's absolutely massive news. 8 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:42,240 You're not going to hear about it when it comes out of Africa. 9 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,840 It's a continent that media often neglects. 10 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,400 I can't say I keep up on it. 11 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:49,400 That's for sure. 12 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,440 There's a story that came out of Africa that was huge in the early part of the year that 13 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,600 I think was missed by most people. 14 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,720 I'm going to go over it, give you a little bit of history about it before we actually 15 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:00,680 get to the thing that happened itself. 16 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,480 So Chelsea, are you ready to learn about a little group called the Good News International 17 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,120 Church and a man by the name of Paul McKenzie? 18 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,960 I'm always ready to learn about that specifically, what you just said. 19 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:15,360 Yes, good, good. 20 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,200 And it's called the Good News Church. 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,520 It's got to be good news coming out of it, right? 22 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:21,520 It has to be. 23 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:22,520 Yeah. 24 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,200 Your discretion advised on this episode. 25 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,720 I'm assuming you're not going to tell me otherwise, especially after just saying that. 26 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:29,720 Yeah, sure. 27 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:30,720 Okay. 28 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:37,080 Eddie, the Good News International Ministries, or more commonly known as the Good News International 29 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:43,480 Church, is often called the Shakapola Cult and it's led by a man by the name of Paul 30 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:44,920 Ntenge McKenzie. 31 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,240 I'm pretty sure I'm pronouncing it right, but I also saw it pronounced Ntenge. 32 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:52,800 But I'm going to call him Paul McKenzie for the most part throughout this article. 33 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:57,680 Compared to founding the Good News International Church in 2003, Paul McKenzie had a fairly 34 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:58,800 modest background. 35 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,440 He was the fifth child from a large family in Mombasa, Kenya. 36 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,880 And after completing his school exams, he initially worked as a street vendor and later 37 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:07,640 became a cab driver. 38 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:13,080 Before founding the church, he worked as a taxi driver in Nairobi from 1997 to 2003, born 39 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:14,080 in 1972. 40 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:19,320 Around 20 years ago, Paul claimed to have received a divine calling to start his own church. 41 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:23,040 He founded the Good News International Church in 2003 with his first wife. 42 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,840 The church started as a small evangelical center in Kenya and quickly gained followers, 43 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,760 primarily due to McKenzie's charismatic leadership and his ability to convince his followers 44 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,960 that he possessed the ability to speak directly with God. 45 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:36,400 Of course. 46 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:42,760 Now this group is widely described as a cult and it is adamantly anti-Western, anti-amenities 47 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:48,520 such as healthcare, education, sports, those all being dismissed as evils of Western life. 48 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,600 With McKenzie condemning things such as the United States, the United Nations, and the 49 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,000 Catholic Church as, quote, tools of Satan. 50 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,200 And I've actually read a lot about this guy and watched a lot about this guy. 51 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,680 It's really hard to say whether or not he's condemning the United States or saying the 52 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:05,240 United States doesn't exist. 53 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,080 Like, it's super hard to tell, especially because you know, we- 54 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,680 The lines are that blurry. 55 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,040 What part of it is is he doesn't speak English. 56 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:14,920 He doesn't sermon in English. 57 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:15,920 So. 58 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:16,920 Okay. 59 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:17,920 Yeah. 60 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:18,920 That language. 61 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:22,760 I have learned English and I have stuck with English. 62 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:23,760 Hard. 63 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,600 I thought you learned some African language. 64 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,760 Yeah, no, I did not. 65 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,840 Not at all. 66 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,400 Now this group is heavy, heavy into the end times. 67 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,200 It's one of those end times Christianity groups. 68 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:42,560 A lot of evangelical groups are, particularly when we get to the cult side of it. 69 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:43,560 They do like those. 70 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:44,560 Yeah. 71 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:49,320 This is itself off of the teachings of a man by the name of William Brannum who was a 1940s 72 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:54,340 evangelical preacher out of the US, which is kind of where it confuses me that he's 73 00:03:54,340 --> 00:03:57,160 adamantly anti-US, but also follows us. 74 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:58,160 Interesting. 75 00:03:58,160 --> 00:03:59,160 Yeah. 76 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,840 I mean, I'm not surprised on that one to be honest. 77 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:02,840 Yes. 78 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:06,440 And it should be noted that the church's teachings are not based on traditional Christian doctrines. 79 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:10,300 Instead, they are rooted in end-time messages of William Brannum, who I just said, who has 80 00:04:10,300 --> 00:04:12,480 been criticized for his controversial views as well. 81 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,920 He's kind of the first televangelist that really comes out. 82 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:17,480 Yeah, like early 1950s on to me. 83 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:18,880 What was his name again? 84 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:19,720 William Branham. 85 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:21,040 I wonder if I'd recognize him. 86 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,320 I don't think so, but one of those really big pushes 87 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,320 for prosperity gospel comes with him as well. 88 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,520 It was kind of a lot of rich people in the 1940s 89 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,360 throwing money at any pastor who says, 90 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:32,720 people with money are good. 91 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:33,760 He comes out of that. 92 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,440 He actually has an entire movement called brandemism, 93 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:38,800 which is basically end time preaching. 94 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,120 Okay, continue. 95 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,720 The main parts of his sermons revolve around end time theology. 96 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,240 The Good News International Church follows the end time message. 97 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,920 The belief has led the church to focus much of his teachings on end times. 98 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,520 McKenzie has been accused of dying medical care to children, 99 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:58,400 resulting in several children dying over the course of the church's life. 100 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,920 There's some pretty extreme groups that do that. 101 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,000 They don't allow any medical intervention. 102 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,400 Part of it is that you can learn about the group through doctors notes, basically. 103 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,040 If kids keep coming in like badly beaten, 104 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,640 you'll soon learn that this group that is very quiet has abuse issues. 105 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,520 And then the last thing is they're adamantly against any type of government registration, 106 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:24,320 which includes like social security numbers, the Kenyan equivalent. 107 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:25,560 Basically anything that would... 108 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:26,920 Oh, for themselves. 109 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:27,840 Oh, for everybody. 110 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:30,160 Like what about the tax breaks for the church? 111 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:31,280 No, there's none. 112 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:33,840 Yeah, they consider that the mark of the beast. 113 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:36,120 So like nobody should have it. 114 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,200 Because that's one of the major reasons to start a church. 115 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,320 Yeah, for sure. 116 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:45,920 It's important to note that these teachings have led to legal issues for this church in particular, 117 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:51,560 including arrests for inciting public violence against registration for Haudumia Namba, 118 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,480 which is their social safety nest in Kenya. 119 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,080 I don't... why wouldn't they want that? 120 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:57,400 Oh, because it's a mark of the beast, right? 121 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:57,600 Yeah. 122 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:58,720 Right, you answered that. 123 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:00,560 Yeah, exactly. 124 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,440 See, I was being attention. 125 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,640 He started this church in 2003. 126 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,960 It's reported in 2016, one of his followers sells a property of his 127 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,400 that's worth 20 million Kenyan shekels or the equivalent of, 128 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,840 you know what, I didn't do the conversion on this one. 129 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:16,960 I would say that's probably about a million dollars, 130 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,640 but I can't remember off the top of my head. 131 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,240 And it gave all of his proceeds to Mackenzie. 132 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,720 If only there were a way to find out. 133 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:24,680 Yeah, if only. 134 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:26,360 If only. 135 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,200 Those tools, they just don't exist. 136 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,560 Except that one time I used it, that will come up later. 137 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:31,280 Okay. 138 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:35,440 So Mackenzie uses money to purchase land in Malindi and Mombasa, 139 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:36,360 both in Kenya. 140 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,320 And two vehicles and he starts a television station. 141 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,680 He uses to spread his extremist propaganda to his audience. 142 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,080 This move is big for him. 143 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,960 And he starts convincing other followers to follow suit, 144 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,440 selling properties and giving the money to the church. 145 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:53,520 In 2017, Mackenzie and his second wife, Joyce Mocamba, 146 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,720 were charged with promoting radicalization, 147 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:57,200 but later declared innocent, 148 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,080 as well as denying children access to health care, education 149 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,080 and running an unauthorized school and television station. 150 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:07,360 And this is important, he doesn't consider any earthly education worthwhile. 151 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:12,160 Yet he has a school and basically through his TV station and his group, 152 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,000 he convinces children that school is not worthwhile. 153 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,640 And if he can, he basically gets them to just come live with the church, 154 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:20,520 to go to their church, to his school, 155 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,040 that is exclusively teaching about God. 156 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:24,440 And where are the parents? 157 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:25,640 Probably in the cult as well. 158 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,040 Sometimes they're part of the cult. 159 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,240 Sometimes the kids go missing and... 160 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:29,960 Just kids. 161 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:31,080 ...they don't know where they are. 162 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:32,320 Yeah. 163 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:33,040 The cult. 164 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,080 Other quick question. 165 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:35,600 He has these properties. 166 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,960 Is he registered with the government? 167 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,000 He would have to be for the purposes of voting property. 168 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,120 I don't think he would agree with it, but for the purposes of this. 169 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,640 And he has contradictory views of, I believe, 170 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,720 of what he does versus what the group is supposed to do. 171 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,040 Yeah, a lot of times that's... 172 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:52,680 Yeah. 173 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:53,640 And we will get into that. 174 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:54,160 ...with the cult leaders. 175 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:54,720 Yeah. 176 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:59,120 Because of basically this television station and this unauthorized school, 177 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:03,040 he ends up getting in trouble with the Kenya Film Classification Board 178 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,920 and they end up coming and shutting down the television station. 179 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:07,720 And during this time in 2017, 180 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,280 several children died as a result of lack of health care 181 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:14,960 and in government authorities rescued 93 children from Mackenzie's church in 2017. 182 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,240 In 2018, he was criticized by community leaders, 183 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:22,440 including the then-Millindy MP, Aisha Jumwa, 184 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,200 and other activists for inciting children to drop out of school, 185 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,040 often without parental consent. 186 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,040 Mackenzie was acquitted in one of these two criminal cases 187 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,200 related to these charges on October 29, 2021, 188 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:34,520 while the other was dropped. 189 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:38,240 And in 2017, Mackenzie and his wife faced several charges relating to the church. 190 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,280 He was chastised for inciting students to abandon their education. 191 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,760 During this time, he ends up amassing quite considerable wealth. 192 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,560 He runs a number of these businesses, 193 00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:48,680 which included the television station at the time. 194 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:52,280 And his net worth, probably as of this year early on, 195 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:57,880 was 2 billion Kenyan shekels or the equivalent of 13.5 million US dollars. 196 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:58,520 Wow. 197 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,000 And Chelsea, I need to send this to you now. 198 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,920 He has even released songs. 199 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,680 Like, you'll get an idea of who this guy is through this. 200 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:09,080 This is a song he released for part of his television channel, 201 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:14,040 where he is singing a song called The Antichrist. 202 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,000 Basically, he's talking about how terrible the Catholic Church, 203 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,040 US, and the United Nations are as agents of Satan, 204 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,160 and he keeps bringing up the new world order. 205 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:28,120 This is a strong reggae feel to it. 206 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:29,280 I know. 207 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,960 It's too upbeat for it being about the new world order. 208 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,600 This is weird. 209 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:36,520 Yeah. 210 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:41,320 He's dancing around. 211 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:46,440 United Nations. 212 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:53,920 So yeah, he released that on his TV station before it got shut down. 213 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,120 He also talked about, you know, other things on there, 214 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,400 like mobile money is the devil's work. 215 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,200 Braiding hair is a sin. 216 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,560 Childhood education is unnecessary. 217 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:05,960 Like, these are all different things that he had playing 218 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,920 on his unregistered television station. 219 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:10,440 Oh. 220 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,280 Braiding hair is a sin. 221 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:12,760 Yeah. 222 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,400 In 2019, he was again charged. 223 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,440 This time for showing movies to school children 224 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,040 that were deemed indoctrination of children, 225 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,480 religious incitement, and disobedience of law. 226 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,360 He is later acquitted of that again. 227 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:25,120 Acquitted? 228 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:25,720 Yes. 229 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:26,320 Why? 230 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:27,040 No idea. 231 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:31,440 There's somewhat answers at the end, but we'll talk about them. 232 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:32,080 OK. 233 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:36,240 Now, despite cabinet secretary honor, I don't know what HON 234 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:37,840 is actually short for, honorable. 235 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,680 Honorable Aisha Jim was publicly questioning his teachings 236 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:42,560 and why he kept sick people in the compound 237 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:43,760 except taking them to the hospital. 238 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:45,640 No action was taken by the National Intelligence 239 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:47,720 Services for National Police or the DCI. 240 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,080 Not sure what DCI is. 241 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,440 Later on, that year, Mackenzie made headlines again 242 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,520 when four siblings went missing for over a month 243 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,520 after leaving home to attend his church, 244 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:57,760 with three eventually returning in the fourth still 245 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:59,680 missing to this day. 246 00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:01,840 Increasing pressure from the parents of the missing children 247 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,640 as well as pressure from fed up neighbors 248 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,040 to close an unregistered school he operated in this compound 249 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,040 led Mackenzie to move to the Shaka Hula Forest. 250 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,200 Neighbors note that many people went there, 251 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,480 but they only saw a few return. 252 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:14,960 It's important to note at this point 253 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,840 that he buys basically an 800 acre area of the Shaka Hula 254 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,440 Forest, which is near Malini, Kenya. 255 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,320 There's no electricity, no running water on this property, 256 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,040 and that's his compound for the church 257 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,120 after he keeps getting in trouble with the government. 258 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:29,840 Might as well move to the forest. 259 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,320 Located not too far from the government Chakama settlement 260 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,840 scheme, the forest is located within the Chakama Ranch, 261 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,280 allegedly owned by a group called Chakama Ranching 262 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,400 Liberty, who claimed that Mackenzie neither leased 263 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:41,720 nor bought the land from them. 264 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:43,800 The governor of Califi County, however, 265 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,120 says the land is part of the third phase of the Chakama 266 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:47,240 settlement scheme. 267 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,280 Elders living in the forest claim that the land belongs 268 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,840 to five local clans who leased the land to Mackenzie 269 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,720 and have the documents to prove it. 270 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:55,600 Temporary structures erected in the forest 271 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,720 served as shelters for fasting individuals. 272 00:11:57,720 --> 00:11:59,520 It's a part of the church that will come up soon, 273 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,560 who are required to surrender all their belonging 274 00:12:01,560 --> 00:12:02,560 at the entrance. 275 00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:05,440 Members of the church explain how they were strictly monitored 276 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,840 and starved for up to five days at a time. 277 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:09,720 Despite several red flags over the years, 278 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,760 Pastor Mackenzie seemed untouchable. 279 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,280 Is this guy specifically going after children? 280 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:15,200 Basically. 281 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,240 And that's going to come up here really quick. 282 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:17,760 OK. 283 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,600 Now, the last of the things that he teaches about 284 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,320 that's super important to know about, 285 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,320 he promotes mass starvation. 286 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,760 And this is what happened in 2023. 287 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,720 Mackenzie allegedly instructed all members of his congregation 288 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:35,680 that the world was going to end on April 15, 2023, 289 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:39,720 and that they need to starve themselves en masse to meet Jesus, 290 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:44,120 lest they survive the world and the devil's coming times. 291 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:47,880 This results in the death of, at the recording of this, 292 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,680 at least 428 people. 293 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:51,440 Wow. 294 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:52,960 From starving? 295 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:54,000 Yes. 296 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,440 Starvation suicide. 297 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,560 This act of mass starvation is described 298 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:00,920 as a form of religious extremism and has been widely 299 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,000 criticized by the broader Christian community. 300 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,160 So yeah, this is what happened in April of 2023. 301 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,360 He's told all of the members of his church 302 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,480 to commit mass suicide by starvation over the following 303 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,240 three weeks, starting in April of 2023. 304 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,800 Basically, what happened is a husband called in and said, 305 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:18,800 my wife has taken my children. 306 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:20,600 They have all gone to join this church. 307 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,480 I have not heard from them in a long time. 308 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,000 I need you guys to go check on them. 309 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,000 And they went and they found emaciated people basically 310 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,640 in huts sitting there. 311 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,480 And they're going, what the hell is going on? 312 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:34,160 They start searching this 800 acre compound or 3.2 313 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,520 square kilometer compound, finding 314 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,880 shallow graves and survivors who were starving to death. 315 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:41,480 The first bodies recovered from the graves 316 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:42,480 were mostly children. 317 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,040 One of the graves was believed by a police 318 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,880 to contain the bodies of five members of the same family, 319 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:48,280 three children and their parents. 320 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,680 One of the graves had up to six people inside it. 321 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:52,840 Another grave had 12 children in it. 322 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:54,360 Some of the bodies were not buried. 323 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:55,920 Authorities also discovered a number 324 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,600 of other emaciated individuals, including one who had been 325 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,640 buried alive for three days and was later 326 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:03,320 taken to a hospital for treatment. 327 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,720 Local authorities began requesting assistance 328 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,880 from other jurisdictions to help with efforts at the commune. 329 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,320 Authorities believe that unknown number of missing people 330 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,320 were still hiding in the forest on the commune 331 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,000 and evading authorities while continuing to fast. 332 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,680 Authorities reported that members of the commune 333 00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:19,520 were actively trying to hinder their efforts 334 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:20,840 to find survivors. 335 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:22,400 According to testimony to police, 336 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,320 McKenzie told his followers, the fast 337 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,360 would count only if they gathered together 338 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,240 and offered them his farm as a fasting venue. 339 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,200 They were not to mingle with anyone from the outside world 340 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:33,880 if they wanted to go to heaven and were 341 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,880 to destroy all documents given to the government, 342 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,800 including national IDs and birth certificates. 343 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,720 On May 26, the Interior Cabinet Secretary, 344 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,080 Kutura Kandiki, said that McKenzie 345 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,240 hired criminals armed with crude weapons 346 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,800 to kill followers who changed their minds about fasting 347 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,080 and wanted out, as well as those who took too long to die. 348 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,760 As of May 10, 133 deaths were reported, 349 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,080 including eight who were rescued but later died. 350 00:14:58,080 --> 00:14:59,720 The majority of deaths were of children 351 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,000 with women being the next largest group, 352 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,320 according to Kandiki. 353 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,040 He additionally stated that not all deaths were by starvation, 354 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,000 saying that there were other methods used, 355 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,600 including hurting them, just by physical preliminary 356 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:11,320 observations. 357 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,840 Oddsopsies conducted on more than 100 bodies 358 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,240 show that the victims died of starvation, 359 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,360 strangulation, suffocation, and blunt trauma. 360 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,520 The Kenya Rick Cross reported on April 30 361 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,960 that 410 individuals, including 227 minors, were missing. 362 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,160 And as of August 2, the total number of reported deaths 363 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:30,680 was 427. 364 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,480 The number of reported missing was at least 613. 365 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:36,920 As of June 15, 95 had been rescued, 366 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,160 and on May 25, local news outlet K-24 TV 367 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,400 noted that the exact number of people who were perished 368 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,960 and the massacre might never be known following reports 369 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,120 that there are instances where bodies were plunged in random, 370 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,640 deep pit latrine scattered in the expanse of Chakama Ranch, 371 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,000 where cult leader Paul McKenzie led an unknown number 372 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:55,000 of his followers. 373 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:56,920 On September 18, the national reported 374 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,800 that a total of 429 bodies have been exhumed 375 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,240 from Shakahola Forest, and that, quote, 376 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,720 the latest data indicates that 214 died from starvation, 377 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,400 39 from asphyxia, 14 from head injuries, 378 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,120 and 115 from uncertain and from other causes. 379 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,720 And the reporting on this is so hard to find 380 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:16,720 the actual numbers, but another article 381 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,840 says from the standard that more than 450 bodies 382 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,880 are suspected to be followers of Pastor Paul McKenzie 383 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:23,960 as they have been exhumed. 384 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,640 So I just want to put this into context right now. 385 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,960 The largest mass suicide that we are aware of 386 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:31,680 is the Jonestown Massacre. 387 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:32,960 I was just Googling it. 388 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:34,960 This is the one that everybody you hear 389 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,280 don't drink the Kool-Aid was actually right aid, 390 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,520 I believe they had, but that's where the saying comes from, 391 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,520 where they all drank poisoned drinks and died on mass. 392 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,240 That was 900 individuals, 900 some. 393 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,880 So far somewhere in the mid 400s, 394 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,360 bodies have been uncovered. 395 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,200 There's still 620 people that wereabouts 396 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:55,360 are unknown and they're missing. 397 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:56,200 Oh my God. 398 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,680 So this is the second largest mass suicide 399 00:16:58,680 --> 00:16:59,760 that we've ever seen. 400 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:01,120 Wow. Could be the largest. 401 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,000 We don't know. 402 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:03,800 And this is through mass starvation. 403 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,160 It is not a single one-off event. 404 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,480 And it has largely gone unnoticed in the rest of the world. 405 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,040 I haven't heard about it at all. 406 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,080 On April 24th, search teams had to stop digging for bodies 407 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,880 until off-stopities were completed on the first 90 408 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,600 that were found because the Malindi Sub-County Hospital 409 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,880 Lord was running out of space to store the bodies. 410 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:22,720 Wow. 411 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:24,360 On April 28th, it was reported that heavy rain 412 00:17:24,360 --> 00:17:26,640 was slowing rescue and recovery efforts. 413 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:29,640 There's still not that much known about Paul McKenzie. 414 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,080 He's had three wives. 415 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,960 I could not find anything about even how many kids they have. 416 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:35,080 He doesn't talk about it. 417 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,040 And there's no big, really huge news stations 418 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:38,880 that were looking at this. 419 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:40,040 So there was no indebted. 420 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:41,120 No, why would there? 421 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:43,040 Especially coming out of Africa 422 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,080 and if he's trying to avoid all of that. 423 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:48,880 And he has all the news, the exclusive news on himself. 424 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,160 Yeah. So he has had at least three wives. 425 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:52,880 No idea how many kids he's had 426 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,000 or why his relationships ended. 427 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,680 All I know is he's had three wives. 428 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,320 But McKenzie and his third wife, Rhoda Moumbois, Mawe, 429 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:01,960 and 16 other members of his church 430 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:03,480 were arrested by authorities 431 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,040 and were being held in custody as of May 7th, 2023. 432 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,040 McKenzie was denied bail on May 10th. 433 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:13,120 And as of June 14th, the total number arrested for this was 36. 434 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:14,240 They have been charged with murder 435 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,040 and terrorism-related offenses. 436 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,080 Police authorities claimed that some of the bodies 437 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:19,280 were missing porgots, 438 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,720 which raised suspicion of forced harvesting. 439 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:26,080 However, this one might be just rumors that came out 440 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,080 as that couldn't be confirmed. 441 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,640 On June 12th, 65 victims were arraigned for attempted suicide 442 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:33,560 and Kenya suicide is a misdemeanor 443 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,560 and is punishable by up to two years of prison. 444 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:36,880 Rosalene Odede, 445 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,280 the chairperson of the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights, 446 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,040 criticized the attempted suicide charges, 447 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,400 saying that charging the survivors with attempted suicide 448 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,520 is inappropriate and will traumatize the survivors 449 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,240 at a time when they are most desperately 450 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,840 required empathy, intense psychosocial assistance, 451 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:51,800 rehabilitation, and community support. 452 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,680 The prosecution made an application 453 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:55,560 to have them remanded in prison 454 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,800 because the rescue center can no longer hold them. 455 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,360 They also set to undergo a mental and medical assessment 456 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:02,080 and be forced to eat in prison. 457 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:03,800 And it should be noted at this point too, 458 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,760 of pretty much all the survivors, 459 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:07,920 last I could find of readings. 460 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,280 The most recent reporting is they still want to follow 461 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:13,440 the teachings of Paul McKenzie. 462 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,320 And it's been hard to actually get them to eat. 463 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,000 So they need severe help. 464 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,800 Yeah, cults are crazy. 465 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:20,040 Yeah. I can't imagine. 466 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,000 The weird thing about this is he was in and out of prison, 467 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:24,640 at least being investigated so many times. 468 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:25,680 How did it get to this point? 469 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,120 Like in 2007, he was arraigned on four counts, 470 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:31,160 including radicalizing and failing to take his children 471 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,120 to compulsory primary and secondary school, 472 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:34,520 which he pleaded not guilty to 473 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,280 and was acquitted on October 29, 2021. 474 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,000 On April 11, 2019, McKenzie was charged with three counts, 475 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,200 including incitement to disobedience of the law 476 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,360 and being in possession of and distributing films 477 00:19:44,360 --> 00:19:46,680 to the public, which had not been examined and approved 478 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,280 by the Kenyan Film Classification, didn't go to jail. 479 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:50,800 McKenzie was also involved 480 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,040 in five separate miscellaneous criminal applications, 481 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,760 one in 2017, where he and 20 others were held for seven days 482 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:59,160 on grounds that they were to carry out 483 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,480 an investigation for radicalization of children 484 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,520 after they were found with 73 children in the church, 485 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:06,840 which again, didn't end up going prison for. 486 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,440 And in 2023, McKenzie faced a new set of charges. 487 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,800 He was arrested on April 15th and released, 488 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,120 and he was later re-arrested on May 2nd, April 15th, 489 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:17,880 also being the day that he said would be the end of the world. 490 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,040 There have been some reactions about this. 491 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,840 Kenya's president, William Ruto, said McKenzie's beliefs 492 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,840 were contrary to the authentic religion. 493 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,160 It should be noted that Kenya's largest religion 494 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:28,240 is Christianity. 495 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,880 So it's not like Christianity itself is seen as a cult. 496 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:34,720 No, this is the biggest group in Kenya is Christians. 497 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:35,920 Ruto is quoted as saying, 498 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,320 McKenzie, who acts as a pastor, is in fact, a terrible criminal. 499 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,880 Terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. 500 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:43,640 People like McKenzie are using religion 501 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:45,320 to do exactly the same thing. 502 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:48,120 The cult leader and others like him should be in jail. 503 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:50,840 And he appointed a commission of inquiry into the deaths 504 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,960 and created a task force to review the regulation 505 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:54,840 governing religious organizations. 506 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:58,160 The interior cabinet secretary, Katori Kandiki, 507 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,240 said, this horrendous blight on our conscience 508 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,960 must lead not only to the most severe punishment 509 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:05,520 of the perpetrators of the atrocity 510 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,840 on so many innocent souls, but tighter regulation, 511 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,440 including self-regulation of every church, mosque, 512 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,240 temple, and synagogue of going forward. 513 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,920 And on August 18th, the Registrar of the Diets, 514 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:16,960 Societies, and Kenya deregistered 515 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:18,600 the Good News International Ministry 516 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,800 as part of government's crackdown on Strupulous churches. 517 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,960 So the latest I could find, Paul McKenzie is in jail 518 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,280 awaiting a trial. 519 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,640 This is from an article I found out of France. 520 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,360 Paul McKenzie and his co-accused have staged a hunger strike 521 00:21:31,360 --> 00:21:34,320 and his lawyer, Wycliffe MacCessamble has said, 522 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,600 and speaking with Shanzu Court, McKenzie's lawyer said 523 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,640 the decision was reached following the remarks 524 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,240 uttered by Interior Secretary Kandiki, 525 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,000 and he will ensure that the preacher serves a license. 526 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,160 He said Kandiki's statements were unlawful, 527 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,160 demanding a fair trial for his client. 528 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:49,920 As of the recording of this episode, 529 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,880 45 people have been apprehended 530 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:53,200 in connection with this cult. 531 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,040 Wow. 532 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,880 Since this has happened, that commission that the president 533 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:58,800 set up has come back with a few things. 534 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,720 Quote, Kenya has experienced death 535 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,960 slick to religious extremism in the past, 536 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,080 however, the Shaka Hola tragedy has registered 537 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:06,560 in the highest number of fatalities 538 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,120 in Kenya's recorded history. 539 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:09,920 It adds that the self-proclaimed pastor 540 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,520 has faced charges way back in 2017 541 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:14,680 and all these other charges that we talked about, 542 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,080 and yet he still just kept getting released. 543 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,920 So the commission of inquiry also points to failings 544 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:21,160 in the local police force, 545 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,040 which has received recurring complaints 546 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,320 by religious leaders and the local community 547 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,440 against his activities from as early as 2017. 548 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,360 The complaints related to Mackenzie's opposition 549 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:32,600 to formal education and medical treatment, 550 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,560 as well as radicalizing adults to resign 551 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:37,160 from their jobs and join the church 552 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:38,760 and holding people hostage. 553 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:40,560 The reports also blamed inaction 554 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,600 by the local county's security committee, 555 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,440 which had summoned Paul Mackenzie 556 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,200 and warned him against his radical teachings 557 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,600 and subjecting followers who inhumane conditions. 558 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,400 Like that's all he got was a reprimand. 559 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:51,440 Yeah, that's crazy. 560 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,160 As you see for some disturbing reason, 561 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:58,600 a lot of cult leaders just kind of skim by for some reason. 562 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,720 A lot of it has to do with the fact 563 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,680 that it's a fairly exclusive community that they create. 564 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,160 So if you can't get in there to actually do an investigation 565 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,120 and nobody will talk to you, what can you charge them with? 566 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:12,000 True, yeah. 567 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:13,120 Basically from this, 568 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:16,040 the commission has decreed current legislation 569 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,560 as inadequate and called on the country's parliament 570 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,960 to pass a religious organizations bill 571 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:22,560 to provide a legislative framework 572 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,240 for the regulation of religious institutions. 573 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,560 Hopefully that will lead to something, 574 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:29,560 but that's where it's at right now. 575 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:31,480 I did find while I was doing this 576 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,480 that another pastor had been charged 577 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:34,960 while this was going on, 578 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,640 a second pastor also based in Melindy was arrested 579 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,240 a few days after Mackenzie's starvation incident occurred. 580 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:42,920 At this point, I do want to talk about 581 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:44,160 there was apparently a plan 582 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,000 of how this death was going to work. 583 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,000 Basically there was an order of starvation. 584 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,080 It was children, then women, then young men, 585 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:52,720 then the highest members of the church, 586 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:54,160 and then finally Paul Mackenzie 587 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,200 was going to commit starvation suicide. 588 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:57,720 But while this was all going on, 589 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:59,320 like he had a dietary plan, 590 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:00,920 all the higher ups were eating, 591 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,240 they did not have any issues with that. 592 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,800 Do we know why starvation of all things? 593 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:09,240 In my mind, it likely has to do with bringing you closer 594 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,160 to Jesus because he fasted for 40 days in the desert, 595 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,680 but I don't know for sure. 596 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:14,880 Yeah, you don't know for sure. 597 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,360 Again, just English. 598 00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:19,400 So it was hard for me to do the research into this. 599 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:20,800 But yeah, I find it questionable 600 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,480 whether or not he was actually going to follow through 601 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,960 with starvation, like killing himself. 602 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:27,240 Well, of course, yeah. 603 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,200 He is on hunger strike in jail right now, 604 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,480 but whether or not he would actually follow through 605 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,200 to death, like I don't think he would, 606 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:36,120 just based on what I've learned about this guy. 607 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:38,280 But yeah, a second pastor also based in Melindy 608 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,640 was arrested a few days after Mackenzie's starvation 609 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:41,480 incident occurred. 610 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,280 His name is Ezekiel Odero, 611 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:45,320 pastor of the New Life Prayer Center 612 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,640 in Church in Movweni, Caliphi County. 613 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,560 It was alleged that several deaths were recorded 614 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,080 at his church between 2022 and 2023, 615 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:53,840 and police believe these bodies 616 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,200 may have been moved to shack a whole of forest. 617 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:57,040 What? 618 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,360 So there's another compound that this guy runs. 619 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:00,560 It is nuts. 620 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,640 New Life Church has its headquarters in Movweni 621 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:04,560 in Caliphi County. 622 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:06,200 It offers a site to behold. 623 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:07,480 Ezekiel revealed the church, 624 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,640 which sits on six and a half acres of land, 625 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:11,800 has a capacity of 6,000 people, 626 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,840 as earlier reported by tuco.co.ke, 627 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,040 which is the place basically I use the most 628 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:17,880 for my research. 629 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,560 They have a tarmac road with cavro paving on sides 630 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,120 for pedestrians, which leads to the church 631 00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:23,040 and the distance from the gate 632 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:24,920 to where the church building is quite long, 633 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,560 showing just how big the land is. 634 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,520 Footage of the compound captured by a YouTube video 635 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,320 shows the huge church building was still under construction. 636 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,400 The main church features six identical metal structures 637 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:36,560 built next to each other. 638 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:37,920 There's a residential house 639 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,360 and a resort on the property as well. 640 00:25:40,360 --> 00:25:42,200 And there's a three story section 641 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:43,640 that will act as accommodations 642 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:45,360 and a resort for guests. 643 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:47,200 There's also a white building with a red roof 644 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:48,600 near the resort, which serves as 645 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:50,040 the church's official building. 646 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:52,080 Apparently it's 31 bedrooms, 647 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:53,680 like how big this place is. 648 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:54,520 Yeah, of course. 649 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:55,640 Well, just imagine. 650 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:57,600 And the compound is vast. 651 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,200 There are over 2,000 parking spots. 652 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,080 Other amenities under construction include 653 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,960 a rehabilitation center, a helipad, and cottages. 654 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,240 Like this place is massive. 655 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:10,080 Obviously for the people in charge. 656 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:12,000 Oh yeah, no, it's just to spread the word 657 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:13,240 of Jesus apparently. 658 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:14,280 But yeah, of course. 659 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,800 So this guy was told, like they're investigating you, 660 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,760 and he turned himself in, drove himself to the cop station 661 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:25,080 in a Kenyan Shekel $17 million Lexus. 662 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,120 So it's about a million dollar Lexus 663 00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:28,680 he drove to turn himself in. 664 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:31,080 But at the time of this recording, 665 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:33,080 the New Life Prayer Center and church leader, 666 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:35,360 Pastor Ezekiel Odero has been cleared 667 00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:37,560 by a Senate ad hoc committee investigating 668 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:39,000 the deaths of the Shekahola. 669 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,760 So he's no longer under scrutiny. 670 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:42,920 But again, another compound church 671 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:44,360 that is just super messed up. 672 00:26:44,360 --> 00:26:46,760 Yeah, they basically were invited to the compound. 673 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:47,600 They did a search. 674 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:49,400 They didn't find any bodies or marks. 675 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,440 So he's no longer under investigation. 676 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:52,280 Okay. 677 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:53,880 But that's where I leave off on this. 678 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:54,720 It's messed up. 679 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,200 And the fact that this hasn't gotten more traction 680 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,080 as a story, this happened in April. 681 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:00,600 They're still trying to uncover bodies. 682 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,040 We probably will never know the final count. 683 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:04,920 I mean, it's how the media works. 684 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,400 I mean, there's so much that we don't hear about 685 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,200 that we're focusing on. 686 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:10,880 I mean, in that time, 687 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,000 billionaires went missing trying to go to the Titanic, 688 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:15,120 which is much... 689 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:17,680 Other billionaires bought social media platforms 690 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,160 and basically took them to the Titanic as well. 691 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,040 Very important things are happening 692 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,160 in which you wouldn't be able to cover this. 693 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,040 There's just not enough time to cover anything. 694 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,120 And let's face it, news coming out of Africa 695 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:31,080 is always going to be second grade. 696 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:32,760 It is for some reason. 697 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,480 I mean, I'm flabbergasted that this hasn't been covered. 698 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:37,520 I haven't heard, I watch the news every day. 699 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:38,880 I haven't seen it anywhere. 700 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:42,000 And I just saw, I was just Googling various things 701 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:43,880 while you talked about it, just so I can see. 702 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:47,400 There's some disturbing pictures of Shackahola Forest, 703 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,280 which exclusively brings up this. 704 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,720 Lots of shallow graves, which are disturbing. 705 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:57,480 Another thing, Paul McKenzie was a cab driver. 706 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:58,960 Yeah, I started off with that. 707 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:00,040 Oh, I guess I missed that. 708 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:01,400 So I just wanted to... 709 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,280 You took in a lot of information, I guess. 710 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,000 I just wanted to accentuate this fact 711 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,280 that he came from being a cab driver. 712 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,480 So Darrow actually, the other one apparently came 713 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,400 from a very poor upbringing as well. 714 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,040 But like this was focused on McKenzie, so I focused on that. 715 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:17,160 Yeah, this is crazy. 716 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:18,960 I was a little, this is kind of dark, 717 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,680 but a little surprised how easy the names were to pronounce. 718 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:23,560 We usually have a little bit of trouble. 719 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,040 These ones actually weren't that bad. 720 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:27,040 Like Paul McKenzie, that surprised me. 721 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,400 I was surprised by the name when you said it. 722 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:30,960 The middle names seem okay. 723 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:32,680 Well, Intenge is the tribal name. 724 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:34,120 I was reading an article, so they were like, 725 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:35,120 oh, he's from this tribe. 726 00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:36,720 Like the name very clearly says that. 727 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:37,560 So it's... 728 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:38,400 Okay. 729 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:39,920 The other parts of Westernize, yeah. 730 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:40,760 Wow. 731 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,040 Yeah, it was so weird reading about this. 732 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,400 And like he used to have a website about the church. 733 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,960 Also, if you Google just good news church, 734 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:50,040 there's probably one near you weirdly enough. 735 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:51,360 I have no idea if they're related. 736 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:52,200 What? 737 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,200 Oh yeah, just type in good news church Vancouver. 738 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,240 I don't think they're related, but man, it's just... 739 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:57,080 There's... 740 00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:58,800 You gotta think about changing your name at this point. 741 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:00,040 Three, there's three. 742 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:01,760 Just in the Vancouver area, correct? 743 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:03,000 Yeah, weird. 744 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:04,440 Yeah, this is really crazy. 745 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,320 And this is ongoing as well. 746 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:08,920 Yeah, he hasn't even stood trial yet. 747 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:10,880 And they're just trying to come up with something 748 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:12,560 to be able to convict him, right? 749 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:13,400 From how I'm understanding it. 750 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:14,480 I think it's partially that, 751 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:16,400 and I think they wanna get a full understanding 752 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,000 of the situation before they bring all the charges. 753 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,040 That makes sense, because it sounds like 754 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:22,680 they've kept it pretty tight-lipped. 755 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,200 Well, that was dark and disturbing. 756 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:29,640 And I guess hopefully we'll have a good news update on this 757 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:31,520 for the New Year's update, 758 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:34,480 and it's not feeling uncertain or feel bad at all. 759 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:35,320 Yeah. 760 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:36,160 But who's to say at this point? 761 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,080 You guys for pulling that bait and switch 762 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,120 with the name Good News International Church. 763 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:41,560 It was not Good News. 764 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:43,800 No, but that is no fault of your own. 765 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:45,080 It is not my fault. 766 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:48,080 I apologize, I take no blame. 767 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,280 I wonder where they came up with that name from. 768 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:51,720 I think it's just easy. 769 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:53,640 That's probably the Anglicized version of it. 770 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,280 I don't know what the actual Indian name is for it. 771 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,160 Yeah, I wonder if it's just a nice name for a church. 772 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:01,640 If that's why there's so many. 773 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,080 Maybe I should do some investigation, email them. 774 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:04,920 Ask them if they... 775 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:05,920 I was actually gonna email 776 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:07,520 one of the ones in Vancouver 777 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,120 that had the exact same name as this one. 778 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:12,520 Just to see what the relationship is to this. 779 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:14,280 Yeah, but I didn't get around to it 780 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,080 because this was really hard to research. 781 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:17,560 Yeah, maybe we can do that 782 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:19,640 and follow up on the New Year's episode. 783 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:21,560 Maybe they wouldn't actually like that. 784 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:22,880 They would not like that. 785 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:24,320 No, no, they probably wouldn't. 786 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,240 You know how they say any prince is good prince? 787 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:28,080 Maybe not. 788 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:28,920 Maybe not. 789 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,840 Especially not on Journey to the Fringe. 790 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:36,320 Okay, well, I feel... 791 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:37,160 Informed. 792 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:38,400 Depressingly enlightened. 793 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,160 It's the best way I could put it now. 794 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,720 Yeah, it's like my Fringy Minis, just longer this one. 795 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:44,240 Yeah, I appreciate this. 796 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,760 I do like to be depressingly enlightened by you, 797 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:48,360 which is what you do a lot. 798 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:49,200 Oh, good. 799 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:51,560 So you're good at it. 800 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,640 And with that, I have been Taylor, 801 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:54,480 here with Chelsea. 802 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:55,680 We are Journey to the Fringe. 803 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:57,640 Thank you all for listening and we'll see you next week. 804 00:30:57,640 --> 00:30:58,480 Bye. 805 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,960 Thank you for listening too, Journey to the Fringe. 806 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,240 If you have liked what you have listened to, 807 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:08,160 please like, share, subscribe, or follow, 808 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:11,200 depending on what venue you are listening to us through. 809 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:14,800 Also, please, if possible, leave a five-star review, 810 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,280 as that really helps us in the algorithms. 811 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:19,240 Should you wish to interact with us, 812 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,440 please check us out on your social media of choice. 813 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:23,840 I bet you we are there. 814 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:26,160 And if you really wanna communicate with us 815 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,200 and give us ideas for new episodes, 816 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:30,720 or tell us that we're wrong and terrible, either way, 817 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,040 please send us an email at Journey to the Fringe 818 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:35,440 at gmail.com. 819 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:37,720 For now, I'll see you in the next episode. 820 00:31:37,720 --> 00:32:04,080 Bye.