Kenya Convicts Preacher Over 191 Shakahola Deaths

By Southerton Business Times Reporter

A Kenyan court has found self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie and 28 associates guilty of murdering 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola Forest starvation cult case.

The verdict was delivered on Monday, 19 October 2026, at the Mombasa High Court, bringing a major development in one of Kenya’s most disturbing cases of religious extremism.

Mackenzie was accused of directing followers to starve themselves and their children to death in the belief that they would meet Jesus. The deaths occurred at a remote settlement associated with his Good News International Church in Shakahola Forest, near the coastal town of Malindi.

“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case against all the 29 accused persons for the murder of 190 children and one adult,” the judge said. Mackenzie reportedly remained impassive as the judgment was delivered. The case emerged in April 2023 after authorities received information about followers who were allegedly starving in the forest. Subsequent investigations uncovered hundreds of bodies buried in shallow graves, triggering a major recovery and forensic operation.

The wider death toll has exceeded 400, with Kenyan authorities reporting that 429 bodies had been recovered. The 191 deaths covered by the murder case represent only part of the wider tragedy.

Families seek justice

Relatives of the victims travelled to Mombasa to follow the proceedings, hoping the verdict would bring accountability and help prevent similar tragedies. Francis Wanje, 62, lost eight family members, including his daughter and two grandchildren.

“This day, to me, is a very, very important day,” he told AFP before the hearing. He said he hoped the ruling would serve as a warning to the public and prevent similar incidents, while expressing anger over what he viewed as the authorities’ initial failure to act.

Prosecutors describe organised fasting

The prosecution alleged that Mackenzie initiated and directed extreme fasting at his approximately 800-acre ranch in Shakahola Forest. Prosecutors described a structured hierarchy in which children were expected to die first, followed by teenagers, women and men.

According to evidence presented by the prosecution, post-mortem examinations and police reports indicated that children died mainly from starvation, although other causes, including asphyxia, neck compression and traumatic head injuries, were also recorded. The case has renewed debate in Kenya over the regulation of religious organisations and the monitoring of groups whose leaders promote potentially dangerous practices.

Mackenzie had previously faced legal action. He was arrested in 2017 on charges related to radicalisation but was acquitted. In 2019, he was arrested in connection with the deaths of two children before being released on bail. He was arrested again in April 2023 following the Shakahola revelations.

Other cases remain pending

The murder proceedings are separate from other cases in which Mackenzie faces charges, including manslaughter and terrorism-related offences. He has denied those charges. In January 2026, he was also charged in connection with 52 additional bodies discovered at a nearby village, according to reports.

The Shakahola tragedy has raised serious questions about the exploitation of religious belief, the protection of children and the responsibility of authorities to intervene when credible warnings of abuse or deaths emerge. For families who lost loved ones, Monday’s verdict marked a significant step towards accountability, although the wider investigations and related legal proceedings continue.

Paul Mackenzie Shakahola massacre