A prisoner denied using his SIM cards behind bars as prosecutors outlined alleged communications between Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused.
The Mombasa High Court heard that a prisoner’s SIM card allegedly operated in a phone linked to Paul Mackenzie. The evidence emerged during the Kwa Binzaro trial, which involves Mackenzie and seven co-accused.
The case concerns the deaths of 28 people whose remains authorities exhumed from shallow graves in Kilifi County. Prosecutors allege Mackenzie used numbers registered to other people to communicate with his co-accused.
Prisoner testifies in Kwa Binzaro trial
Kalume Kitsao Rimba, 41, testified before Justice Wendy Kagendo about SIM cards registered in his name. He is serving a 50-year sentence at Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking in 2024.
Rimba admitted keeping SIM cards in prison but denied using them for calls or mobile money transactions. He also denied any direct association with Mackenzie, saying he knew him only through reports about the Shakahola deaths.
Under questioning by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Frankline Sirima, Rimba said he registered five Safaricom numbers. He explained that he wanted to build his M-Shwari portfolio and access mobile loans, maintaining the registrations were legitimate.
Rimba said officers searched his cell on September 20, 2025, and found two Bibles containing handwritten papers. The papers bore names and telephone contacts.
Officers later told him that someone had used one of his SIM cards to transfer money to Mackenzie. The preacher is also in custody at Shimo La Tewa.
Witness says he lent card to fellow inmate
A further search the following day uncovered two SIM cards. Rimba said he had kept them since his arrest in March 2024.
However, he acknowledged occasionally lending one card to fellow inmate Charles Kalume, who borrowed money from him for calls. He added that Kalume borrowed handsets from other inmates.
Prison regulations prohibit inmates from possessing unauthorised mobile phones and SIM cards.
Meanwhile, prosecutors alleged that Mackenzie’s communications included instructions to intensify doomsday preaching and encourage fasting among Kwa Binzaro followers. They allege those instructions resulted in deaths.
Officers describe prison searches
Prison officer James Mnjala said intelligence about prohibited items prompted surprise cell searches. Officers recovered items including a mobile phone, ropes, nails, plastic containers and boxes. Another officer also found a separate Itel handset.
Sergeant Stanislous Bongo Chikuta, the 50th prosecution witness, described searches on August 30 and September 19, 2025. He said officers recovered phones and SIM cards from inmates.
Chikuta also witnessed investigators search Mackenzie’s cell on September 20, recovering a notebook, handwritten notes and a Bible. He said the notebook listed telephone numbers and identification details under prosecution witness Emily Achieng’s name.
Achieng testified virtually from Kisumu. The hearing continues before the Mombasa High Court.
