Paul Makenzie has been convicted today at Malindi law court for Illegally operating a film studio associated with his radical preaching.
According to the senior Magistrate Olga Onalo found Mackenzie guilty of conducting exhibition of films to the public through Times Television without approval of Kenya Film Classification Board.
“He was charged with operating a filming studio and producing films without a valid filming licence from the Kenya Classification Board ,contrary to section 4 of the Films and stage Play Act,Cap.222 of the laws of Kenya,” ODPP noted.
Onalo further found him Quilty of being in possession of and distributing films that have not been classified,contrary to section 12 of the Films and Stage Plays Act,cap 222.
Makenzie committed both offenses jointly with others not before court on 11th January 2019 and 11th April, 2019, at Good News International Church in Malindi Township, Malindi Sub-County, within Kilifi County.
In her ruling, Hon. Onalo stated that the prosecution, through Senior Prosecution Counsel Joseph Mwangi and Prosecution Counsel Kennedy Kirui proved the case against Mackenzie beyond any reasonable doubt.
The court ruled that the accused failed to dislodge himself from the evidence of the four prosecution witnesses and exhibits, including videos of Mackenzie’s radical preaching.
Additionally,the court ruled that Mackenzie admitted that Times Television belonged to his church, Good News International, where detectives recovered DVD films containing sermons on end-time items in his office.
However, the trial magistrate acquitted him of the offence of inciting children against attending school and further using the films to incite Christians against Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims based on their religion.
The court has ordered that a pre-sentence report be filed by the Probation and Aftercare Services to capture the sentiments of the complainant, which is the prosecution.
The prosecution was also directed to file submissions on sentencing. The case will be mentioned on 1st Dec. 2023.
