Malindi: Paul Mackenzie Jailed For 1 Year For Using Unapproved Video Content

• Good News International Church leader Paul Mackenzie was found guilty of producing video content without authorisation from the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB)
• Malindi Senior Resident Magistrate Olga Onalo, though reasonable, Mackenzie's explanation of not knowing the need for a license cannot hold in court
• The cleric is also alleged to have had a hand in the Shakahola massacre, where hundreds of people faithful to his church were confirmed dead

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kilifi - Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church has been jailed for one year after being found guilty of producing video content without a license.

The court had previously established that the preacher had a case to answer over his possession and distribution of film materials without the approval of the Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB).

The count is among two others the controversial cleric was charged with, including inciting the public to disobey the law.

Mackenzie was accused of using the cinematographic films in his custody to incite children in his Good News International Church against attending school and Christians against other faiths like Hindus and Muslims.

Mackenzie sentenced to prison

In the Friday, December 1 ruling, Malindi Senior Resident Magistrate Olga Onalo also slapped the cleric with a six-month jail term for showing the films to the public without an operating license.

Onalo dismissed Mackenzie's defence that he did not know there was a need for a license, adding that ignorance of the law is no defence.

"In respect to count two, I hereby sentence the accused person to twelve months imprisonment while in respect to count three, the accused person’s explanation of not knowing the need for a license from the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) having obtained a broadcasting one is a reasonable though not entirely acceptable as ignorance of the law is no defense hence the resulting conviction and in light of the same, I sentence the accused to six months imprisonment,” said Onalo as reported by Citizen Digital.

The offences the Kilifi cult leader faced attract a jail term of not more than a year and an alternative fine not exceeding KSh 100,000, but the Probation Officer in the case told the court to deny Mackenzie a fine.

What senators want from Paul Mackenzie

In the face of his many troubles, the preacher has been upbeat that he won't be found guilty of all the accusations on his name.

Last month, the Senate ad hoc committee probing the deaths recommended freezing Mackenzie's accounts.

The committee, under the stewardship of Tana River senator Danson Mungatana, wanted Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions to take action within 90 days.

The lawmakers suggested that the proceeds in Mackenzie's accounts ought to be used to compensate the families of his victims.