{
  "id": 5528730,
  "title": "Kwa Binzaro trial: Witnesses recount radical teachings, family disappearances",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/kwa-binzaro-trial-witnesses-recount-radical-teachings-family",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T07:29:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/kwa-binzaro-trial-witnesses-recount-radical-teachings-family-disappearances/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 4 – Five prosecution witnesses testified before Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Mwanamkuu Sudi in the Kwa Binzaro trial, detailing alleged religious indoctrination, abandonment of formal education, medical treatment, prolonged fasting, and the disappearance of followers influenced by religious teachings. The evidence is part of the Director of Public Prosecutions' case against eight suspects, including controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, who face charges related to the deaths of 52 people and accusations of radicalisation. One of the witnesses, Kenya Police officer Isaiah Barasa Syakilo, described receiving information about a compound in the Binzaro area where followers were allegedly subjected to radicalisation and starvation disguised as religious fasting. The compound was described as enclosed by barbed wire and thorny shrubs, with a locked gate. Upon entry, authorities found the compound deserted and recovered personal items from nearby houses. Another witness, Meresia Adhiambo Juma, testified about her son, Stephen Ochieng Juma, disappearing after a group of four men and a woman visited her family home for a religious preaching session. The visitors allegedly encouraged followers to travel to Malindi, pray to die, and go to heaven, discouraging formal education, seeking medical treatment, and attending churches. Two other witnesses, Titus Omondi Olum and Japheth Lenox Karim, testified about Seth Okinyi Olum, his wife Emily Adoyo Olum, and their four children, who abandoned their previous lives, withdrew their children from school, and resigned from their jobs after following religious teachings that discouraged education and promoted the belief in an approaching end of the world.",
  "summary": "Evidence forms part of the DPP case against eight suspects, including controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}