Eight Children Rescued From Paul Mackenzie’s Mother’s Home
Detectives said they acted after receiving information about the conditions in which the children were living.
Eight children have been rescued from the home of Anastasia Mwele, mother of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, in Furunzi, Malindi, amid concerns over alleged food deprivation and denial of education. Photo: Peoples Daily.
By Robert Mutasi
Eight children have been rescued from the home of Anastasia Mwele, the mother of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, in Furunzi, Malindi, amid concerns that they were being denied food and kept out of school.
The children, aged between six and 14, were rescued by Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Mwele, who is their grandmother, was arrested during the operation.
Detectives said they acted after receiving information about the conditions in which the children were living. They alleged that the children were being subjected to fasting and religious teachings associated with Mackenzie.
A senior DCI officer said the grandmother had allegedly been denying the children food, prompting authorities to intervene.
The children were taken to Malindi Police Station, where officers from the Child Protection Unit were expected to take charge of their welfare and arrange for them to be moved to a safer environment.
Detectives said five of the eight children are believed to be Mackenzie’s children.
Mackenzie’s Son Raises Alarm
The police operation followed a report by Mackenzie’s eldest son, Dan Mwele, who became concerned about the welfare of his siblings and cousins.
Dan told journalists that the children had stopped attending school and continued to follow a religious practice centred on fasting. He said he reported the matter after learning that the children were sometimes going without food.
The children were fed before being taken to the police station, although Dan said their physical condition did not necessarily indicate severe malnutrition at the time of their rescue.
The DCI said Mwele was expected to remain in custody pending arraignment. Investigators are considering charges related to child cruelty, torture and denying the children their right to education.
The case has renewed attention on the teachings associated with Mackenzie, who is facing several criminal cases linked to the deaths of his followers.
Shakahola Link
Mackenzie came under intense scrutiny in 2023 after police investigations uncovered mass graves in Shakahola Forest, near Malindi. Hundreds of bodies were eventually recovered as authorities investigated allegations that followers of his Good News International Church had been encouraged to engage in extreme fasting.
Court proceedings have included evidence alleging that children were removed from school and that followers were subjected to strict teachings on fasting and other aspects of Mackenzie’s beliefs.
In January 2026, Mackenzie’s co-accused Enos Amanya pleaded guilty to 191 murder charges. Mackenzie and other accused persons are also facing separate proceedings linked to alleged organised crime, radicalisation and deaths reported in Kwa Binzaro.
The latest rescue has raised fresh questions about whether teachings associated with the Shakahola tragedy continue to influence vulnerable families in the Malindi area.
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