A Mombasa court on Monday found self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie and 29 associates guilty of the murder of 191 people. The victims included 190 children and one adult who were members of a group led by Mackenzie. The prosecution argued that Mackenzie incited his followers to starve themselves to death at his 800-acre ranch in the Shakahola Forest, a remote area near the Kenyan coast, telling them it was the path to "meet Jesus."
The case originated from a police operation in April 2023 after a human rights group alerted authorities to activities at the ranch. Following the initial rescue of some followers, investigators discovered hundreds of bodies in shallow graves. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported in 2024 that the total death toll related to the site reached 429, though many victims remain unidentified. Mackenzie had previously established the Good News International Church in 2003 and had been arrested in 2017 and 2019 on related charges but was either acquitted or released on bail.
Prosecutors stated that Mackenzie directed a "structured hierarchy of death" where children were ordered to die first, followed by teenagers, women, and then men. While state pathologists found that many victims died of starvation, reports also indicated causes of death included asphyxia, neck compression, and traumatic head injury. Defense lawyers argued the case relied on circumstantial evidence and hearsay, but the judge ruled that the prosecution had proved the murder charges against all 30 defendants. Mackenzie still faces separate charges related to manslaughter and terrorism.
The case has led to calls for tougher government regulation of religious organizations across Kenya. The conviction sets a legal precedent in Kenya for holding religious leaders criminally responsible for the deaths of followers resulting from extreme fasting directives. Mackenzie’s history of avoiding long-term detention—having been released after a 2017 radicalization charge and a 2019 case involving two child deaths—had previously drawn criticism from victims' families who sought earlier intervention.
The legal process for Paul Mackenzie and his associates continues as they face separate trials. Mackenzie was charged in January regarding an additional 52 bodies found in a nearby village, and he remains under indictment for manslaughter and terrorism. The court has not yet announced the sentencing date for the murder convictions. Kenyan authorities are also continuing the process of identifying the remaining unidentified victims through forensic testing.