Kenyan pastor Mackenzie guilty of murdering 191 people

A Kenyan court has convicted preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 28 co-accused of murdering 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi County. According to KahawaTungu, Lady Justice Diana Kavedza delivered the judgment at the Mombasa High Court, finding the group guilty of all 191 murder counts related to deaths recorded between January 2021 and September 2023. SABC News reported that Mackenzie denied the murder charges and that sentencing is scheduled for November 6.

The court found that the deaths resulted from an organized system involving religious teachings and a structured hierarchy used to direct followers to fast to death. KahawaTungu reported that instructions were communicated through village elders and regular meetings, with the practice implemented in stages starting with children while guards prevented followers from escaping.

Prosecutors stated that Mackenzie ordered followers of his Good News International Church to starve themselves and their children to reach heaven before the world ended, SABC News reported. DW News described the group as a Christian doomsday cult.

Brief written by urgent.news from SABC News, People Daily Kenya, KahawaTungu, DW News — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.