Kenyan religious leaders have come together to release a statement condemning the actions of Pastor Paul Mackenzie, whose followers were found buried in mass graves after being directed to fast to death.
The IRCK expressed their outrage and dismay over the nature of the revelations and the tragic consequences of Mackenzie’s extremist religious beliefs.
“We come together as the Inter-religious council of connect to express our outrage and dismay over the nature of revelations of the 800-piece of acre land, where seemingly hundreds of unsuspecting seekers of God found themselves indoctrinated into cultic pathways, chained on doctrinal hysteria, and ended up mysteriously in unmarked graves.
Kenyans are irritated and traumatized by the shocking news from the unthinkable Shakahola farm finding. An errant pastor, so called, has inadvertently invited all of us to the findings of his advertent acts of inhumanity, religious distortion and velled cultic mission that have been allegedly happening for many years.”
Religious leaders from various religious communities across Kenya expressed their deep sorrow for the lives lost due to Mackenzie’s teachings.
“We commiserates with families and friends of all those who loved ones have suffered unjustified death under the alleged indoctrination of Paul Mackenzie. Our hearts are broken about the monstrous acts of Mackenzie and his associates.”
IRCK noted that Mackenzie had been able to evade scrutiny for many years, but his actions must not be ignored. The IRCK also noted that Mackenzie’s actions have put the entire religious organization under scrutiny, calling for openness in operation, clarity of teachings, and sincerity in everything.
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“Paul Mackenzie may have sadly escaped scrutiny for many years, but he must not escape the chains of justice. It is obviously that McKenzie was willfully acting with malicious intent, and pre-meditated the outcome of the indoctrination of his victim. Now he has put a religious organization on their feet, and made the country more alert.
Unavoidably, the church has come under scrutiny, because of the disgrace acts and omissions of Mackenzie. Religious institutions should not consider themselves inducted, but that the society is calling for openness in operation, clarity of teachings and sincerity in everything.”
The IRCK believes that every organization, whether religious or non-religious, should operate within the confines of what is considered the greater good for all and within functional law. The council acknowledges that the events at the Shakahola farm have brought the issue of dangerous religious practices to the forefront and calls for stricter regulation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Our God is a God of ORDER, purity and life, and that is what our Holy books teach us. As a harmonious team of Christians, Muslims, and Hindus, the IRCK unreservedly condemns the act of omission of Mackenzie, and castigate him for wrongfully wooing innocents into a death trap using religious teachings.”
The religious leaders called on the government to set up psychosocial support mechanisms for those who were found fasting to almost a point of death, as well as for those whose loved ones may be identified as victims of Mackenzie.
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“We ask the government to set up a psychosocial support mechanisms for those who have been found fasting to almost a point of death, and those whose loved ones may be identified as victims of McKenzie.”
They also called on the police and directorate of criminal investigations to widen their scope and uncover all ills and illegalities around Mackenzie, his associates, and other possible occurrences in Kilifi county and other counties.
“We call on the police and directorate of criminal investigations to widen their scope and uncover all ills and illegalities around McKenzie, his associates, and a lot more that could be happening in Kilifi county, and even other counties.”
“In case of necessary legal aid, the law society of Kenya should be at hand to give necessary counsel.”
They called for the government to take swift action to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The leaders also called for the strengthening of laws and regulations governing religious institutions to avert any possible recurrence of anything that could mirror the Shakola farm of death and improper religious teachings.
“We call for strengthening of law and regulation guiding religious institutions, to close rooms for irregular operation by any religious identity, and avert any possible recurrence of anything that could mirror the Shakola farm of Death and improper religious teachings.”
In conclusion, the IRCK continues to pray for the families, friends, and Kenyans who have been affected by this unfortunate event.
The council hopes that this incident will serve as a wake-up call to all religious institutions to operate within the law and for the government to take action to prevent such incidents in the future.
