Woman tells court she shaved hair because plaiting is an abomination

A witness on Monday told the Shakahola massacre trial that her journey into Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s Good News Church began with a warning that “plaiting hair is an abomination,” a message that marked the start of her indoctrination.

Testifying virtually before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Mombasa High Court, Jackline Mumbe Mary said she had moved to Mombasa to live with her sister, Monicah Mary, who gradually introduced her to Mackenzie’s teachings.

“My sister told me there is a pastor who believes plaiting hair is an abomination,” she said.

At the time, she worshipped at the Africa Inland Church (AIC).

Ms Mumbe said her sister showed her Mackenzie’s sermons on Times TV, prompting her to shave her hair and join Good News Church. She later left the church due to internal conflicts, but her sister disappeared and has never been found.

Two other witnesses also testified, giving emotional accounts of how their families were drawn into the deadly cult.

The first was Abel Kaire Oyalo, who described how his wife abruptly abandoned their church in Gachie, Kiambu County, after embracing Mackenzie’s doctrine.

She later fled their home with their four children and relocated to Shakahola.

“Suddenly, my wife’s lifestyle changed,” he said. “She stopped wearing trousers, shaved her hair, and stopped taking the children to hospital and school.”

Oyalo said he traced his wife in March 2023, but she refused to return, accused him of hindering her faith, and urged him to marry someone else. She then cut off communication.

“I have never seen my wife again,” he said.

His testimony turned emotional as he recounted being contacted in 2025 to collect the body of one of his missing children, identified through DNA.

“I recognised my daughter by looking at her teeth,” he said.

The final witness, Julius Mnyambo, told the court that his late brother, Edison Safari Mnyambo--an accused person in the case--had moved with his family from Malindi to Shakahola after following Mackenzie’s teachings.

Edison later fell ill in custody and died at Coast General Hospital. One of his children was also recovered and handed over to the family.

Hearing continues.