Kenyan Sect Leader Paul Mackenzie Faces a Trial for 191 Hunger Deaths

Since 2023, hundreds of remains have been unearthed at the cult camp inland from the Kenyan coastal resort of Malindi, in what has become known as the “Shakahola Forest Massacre”. Paul Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed preacher, is accused of encouraging his followers to starve to death in order to “meet Jesus”.

Mackenzie and his associates pleaded not guilty to 191 counts of murder in 2024. He has also rejected charges of manslaughter and terrorism in separate cases. In the three years since the terrible discovery, more bodies of children, women, and adults have been discovered, bringing the total to well over 400.

Mackenzie appeared unconcerned as he arrived in Mombasa Law Courts on Monday alongside 29 other accused, who disembarked from a barred-window bus handcuffed in pairs. Many of the victims’ relatives had traveled to Mombasa from rural communities along the coast to attend court. Francis Wanje, aged 62, lost eight family members, including his daughter and two grandkids, at Shakahola.This is a really crucial day for me,” he told AFP before the session began.

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