Kenyan cult leader faces verdict over Shakahola deaths

A High Court in Mombasa, Kenya is set to deliver a verdict on Monday regarding the murder charges against controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 30 co-accused individuals. The case centers on the deaths of 191 children allegedly linked to Mackenzie’s Good News International Church, which came under scrutiny in April 2023 after mass graves were discovered in Kilifi’s Shakahola Forest.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) documented 448 deaths in its Mashaka ya Shakahola report released in March 2024, highlighting alleged starvation, strangulation, head injuries, and dehydration as the causes of death. The trial, which featured testimony from survivors, relatives of victims, investigators, and forensic experts, relied on the doctrine of common intention, alleging that the accused acted together towards a shared objective.

The defense has been heard, and the court has reserved its judgment. Beyond the criminal proceedings, the Shakahola tragedy has prompted wider scrutiny of religious organizations and the state’s response to allegations of harmful practices.

Brief written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.