Paul Mackenzie Convicted in Kenya Shakahola Deaths Case
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Paul Mackenzie Convicted in Kenya Shakahola Deaths Case

Oct 19, 2026 · 2 min read · 41 views

A Kenyan court has convicted self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 28 associates of murdering 191 people, including 190 children and one adult. The verdict was delivered at the Mombasa High Court on 19 October 2026.

Mackenzie led the Good News International Church, which prosecutors described as a doomsday sect operating in Shakahola Forest near Kenya’s coast. Prosecutors said he instructed followers to stop eating and to make their children fast so that they could go to heaven before the end of the world. Mackenzie denied ordering the deaths and argued that followers chose to fast, but the court rejected his defence.
The case began after police arrested Mackenzie in 2023 following a tip-off. Investigators later found shallow graves in Shakahola Forest. More than 400 bodies have been recovered from the forest, although the judgment delivered on Monday concerned 191 deaths. Many victims have not been identified because the remains were badly decomposed.
The court heard evidence that children were among the first people targeted by the group’s fasting instructions. Prosecutors said the group operated through a structured system in which children were expected to die first, followed by women, young men and other men. The case also raised concerns about the government’s failure to stop the group earlier, despite previous reports and police attention.
Mackenzie and the convicted associates will be sentenced on 6 November 2026. Mackenzie also faces other legal proceedings involving terrorism-related offences, radicalisation and allegations that children were prevented from attending school. He has denied those allegations.
The Shakahola deaths have caused deep grief among families and renewed debate in Kenya about oversight of religious organisations. The tragedy has also led to calls for stronger protection of children and earlier action against religious leaders who promote dangerous teachings.
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