Kenyan court convicts cult leader over starvation deaths of 191

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 17:19 · Archive

A Kenyan court has found starvation cult leader Paul Mackenzie guilty of murdering 190 children and one adult.

A Kenyan court has convicted Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, and about 30 associates of murder over the deaths of 190 children and one adult in the Shakahola Forest near the coast in southeastern Kenya. Prosecutors said the sect ordered followers to starve themselves and their children to death so they could go to heaven before the world ended and 'meet Jesus'. Mackenzie was arrested in 2023 after police received a tip-off, and weeks later authorities began uncovering bodies in shallow graves. The court rejected Mackenzie's defence that he did not force the victims to starve.

Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache said in a hearing lasting more than eight hours that in some cases children were isolated and denied food while their parents watched. More than 400 bodies have been recovered from the forest in total, though many were severely decomposed and only 26 could be identified. Monday's judgment covered 191 deaths; investigations into the other deaths are ongoing. Family members of those who died gathered at Mombasa High Court to hear the judgment.

How it is being reported

• Starvation cult leader found guilty of murder of 191 children found dead in Kenyan forestIn total, more than 400 bodies have been recovered from the Shakahola ForestIndependent World · 19 Oct, 16:55
• Kenyan court convicts starvation cult leader for murder of 191 peopleThis is a breaking news story.Al Jazeera · 19 Oct, 16:34

In this story: Paul Mackenzie · Good News International Church · Kenya · Shakahola Forest · Mombasa

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