Posts sharing this image claim to show Paul Mackenzie allegedly attending a Thanksgiving service at State House. Another Facebook post shows an image of President William Ruto, allegedly accompanied by Paul Mackenzie for another prayer meeting.
Background
On April 14, 2023, controversial Pastor Paul Mackenzie was arrested after four of his followers were found dead, and ten others rescued from Shakahola forest, starving, ‘to meet Jesus.’ This then pushed detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to launch a search in the area. According to Nation Media , as of March 17, 2023, 227 bodies had been exhumed. Paul Mackenzie is accused of indoctrinating his followers into fasting to death among other cultic teachings.
Verification
A reverse image search shows one of the images was published on The Standard on September 25, 2022. According to this publication, the image is from a thanksgiving meeting at State House. These prayers were held two weeks after President William Ruto was sworn in as president.
The original image was altered. In the one published by The Standard, the person in the photo is seated upright and facing forward. But the fabricated one shows the man in the same posture, however, his head is inclined. See comparisons below;
The second image on the other hand shows President William Ruto attending a church service on July 11, 2021. The original image also shows Erick Mwangi, a Bishop in the same church. Moreover, in the altered image, the head is overly out of proportion. See comparison below;
Verification
Images claiming to show controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie attending prayer meetings with President Wiliam Ruto are DOCTORED.
This fact-check was edited by Piga Firimbi Fact-Checking Editor Linda Ngari.
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