{
  "id": 15629718,
  "title": "Kenyan pastor Mackenzie guilty of murdering 191 people",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/kenyan-pastor-mackenzie-guilty-of-murdering-191-people",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T17:19:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/kenyan-pastor-mackenzie-guilty-of-murdering-191-people/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Court finds Paul Mackenzie guilty of 191 murders in Shakahola tragedy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/court-finds-paul-mackenzie-guilty-of-191-murders-in-shakahola-tragedy",
        "published": "2026-10-19T15:32:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Mackenzie, 28 others convicted over Shakahola massacre that killed 191 people",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/mackenzie-28-others-convicted-over-shakahola-massacre-that-killed-191",
        "published": "2026-10-19T15:49:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "DPP secures convictions of Mackenzie, 28 others in Shakahola massacre",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/dpp-secures-convictions-of-mackenzie-28-others-in-shakahola-massacre",
        "published": "2026-10-19T16:37:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}