A Kenyan court has sentenced self-proclaimed religious leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for his role in the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, in one of the country’s worst cult-related tragedies. The victims died after followers of his doomsday religious movement were allegedly instructed to starve themselves and their children to death in the belief that doing so would help them reach heaven before the end of the world.
The sentence was pronounced by the High Court in the coastal city of Mombasa on November 6, following Mackenzie’s conviction for murder in October. The punishment comprises two consecutive terms of 100 years each, one for deaths caused by starvation and the other for direct homicide. The court held Mackenzie primarily responsible for the deaths, citing his role in directing followers to relocate to the remote Shakahola forest and follow his extreme religious instructions.
Mackenzie, who headed the Good News International Church, had allegedly convinced his followers that the world was approaching its end and that fasting until death was the way to meet Jesus and attain salvation. Prosecutors told the court that his associates also played an active role in enforcing these instructions by threatening and assaulting those who resisted. Some victims were allegedly deprived of food and water, while others were subjected to physical violence. Investigators also found evidence that some people had been buried alive.
The horrifying incident came to light in April 2023, when police began investigating reports of deaths in the Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi in southeastern Kenya. Authorities subsequently discovered mass graves and began exhuming bodies from the area. More than 400 bodies have since been recovered, although several could not be identified because of advanced decomposition. The latest court judgment, however, relates to 191 deaths, while investigations into hundreds of other suspected victims are continuing.
During the trial, Mackenzie denied forcing his followers to starve themselves and rejected responsibility for the deaths. However, the court dismissed his defence and found him guilty along with 28 other accused persons. The judge’s observations highlighted the particularly disturbing circumstances surrounding the deaths of children, some of whom were allegedly isolated and denied food while their parents watched.
The case has also exposed how Mackenzie was able to continue spreading his teachings despite attracting the attention of law enforcement agencies several years before the mass deaths were discovered. Police had reportedly searched his premises in 2017, while his church was shut down by authorities in 2019. Following the closure, he shifted his activities to the Shakahola forest, where followers reportedly lived in makeshift shelters constructed from plastic sheets and thatched materials. The settlement was divided into areas bearing biblical names, including Jerusalem and Judea.
Mackenzie, a former taxi driver, had also discouraged members from sending their children to school or seeking medical treatment when ill, describing educational and healthcare institutions as satanic. These restrictions further isolated followers from the outside world and made it difficult for families to seek assistance.
The court also sentenced Mackenzie’s 28 co-accused, who were found guilty of various roles in the killings. They included individuals who allegedly helped enforce fasting instructions and those involved in concealing bodies in mass graves. Some received prison terms extending up to 160 years.
The prosecution had sought the death penalty for Mackenzie. However, the court declined to impose capital punishment, citing the possibility of rehabilitation. The verdict has renewed demands in Kenya for stronger government supervision of churches and religious organisations, particularly those whose leaders promote extremist beliefs.
The Shakahola killings have sparked widespread outrage across Kenya and raised serious questions about the failure of authorities to prevent the tragedy despite earlier warnings about Mackenzie’s activities. The case has also drawn attention to the vulnerability of children and families who become isolated under the influence of extremist religious movements.
Mackenzie is facing additional legal proceedings in connection with other alleged crimes, including terrorism-related offences and the deaths of 52 people whose bodies were discovered at Kwa Binzaro village, around 30 km from Shakahola. Prosecutors allege that he continued directing killings even while in detention. He has denied the allegations in the separate case.
The 200-year sentence marks a significant development in the Shakahola case, although investigations into the remaining deaths and the alleged involvement of other individuals are still underway.
