The defence hearing in the terrorism-related case against controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie continued at the Shanzu Law Courts, where witnesses presented accounts linked to the Shakahola tragedy.

Among those who testified was 24-year-old Faith Opiyo, who is also an accused person in the case. She told the court she left school in Class Seven while in Busia County after experiencing what she described as a dream she believed was prophetic, later linking it to a fire incident at her school that destroyed property.

“When the incident happened, I lost all my properties in school, but since God saved my life, I decided to leave school and serve the Almighty God, as I believed that my dream had come true,” she told the court.

Faith testified that she later travelled to Nairobi before proceeding to Shakahola, where she was eventually arrested, adding that she identified herself as a “Mteule” but could not confirm the roles of other accused persons.

Another accused, Anne Anyoso Alukhwe, also gave emotional testimony, claiming she lost all six of her children in Shakahola after they voluntarily fasted in pursuit of spiritual beliefs. She told the court the children had dug their own graves and that she believes they are “in heaven.”

During cross-examination, Anne cited biblical passages in defence of her actions and told the court that her children’s deaths occurred after she had separated from her husband, co-accused Amos Amanya.

She further alleged that a pastor in Nairobi influenced the family’s relocation to Malindi and later took proceeds from the sale of their home, leaving them stranded before they moved to Shakahola.

The hearing is expected to continue as more defence witnesses testify, with the defence also seeking to adopt testimony from related proceedings in a separate Malindi case.