Kenya: Kenya Cult Leader Paul Mackenzie Sentenced to 200 Years

What the report says

A Kenyan court has sentenced religious sect leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison after convicting him in connection with the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children and one adult. According to the source report, the case stemmed from the so-called Shakahola Forest Massacre, in which bodies were found in wooded areas after followers of his apocalyptic movement were allegedly urged to fast to death.

The article says Mackenzie led the Good News International Church, based in the coastal town of Malindi, and that the group had operated since 2003. He was found guilty in October on multiple counts of murder tied to starvation and direct homicide. Justice Diana Kavedza imposed the 200-year term as two 100-year sentences covering different categories of the killings.

The report notes that Mackenzie denied forcing followers to starve. It also says 28 co-accused people received various prison terms for their roles. More broadly, the case has drawn attention to the dangers of extremist religious abuse and the scale of deaths linked to the cult, with some 400 bodies reported in the wider investigation. Kenya still has the death penalty on its books, but the country has not carried out an execution since 1987.