Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie faces verdict over deaths of 191 children

Doomsday preacher and 29 followers accused of ordering starvation deaths so victims could 'meet Jesus'

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Read Time3 min

A Kenyan court is set to deliver a judgment in the mass murder case against doomsday preacher Paul Mackenzie and 29 followers, who are accused of murdering 191 children by starvation in the Shakahola forest. Mackenzie's cult allegedly forced children to starve to death as part of a doomsday doctrine that deemed education and modern medicine as evil. All defendants have pleaded not guilty, insisting that nobody was forced to die.

The judgment in Malindi marks the first time Mackenzie will face a verdict on the most serious charges of murder. Authorities have said over 400 bodies were found in shallow graves in the Shakahola forest near the Kenyan coast, where Mackenzie led his followers after shutting down his main church in 2019.

Seventeen men from a nearby town were hired to dig up the graves, some paid about $8 a day. James, one of the gravediggers, told the BBC: "Every grave we found had at least three bodies. Some of the remains were of children as young as a few weeks old. We once found 12 bodies of children in a line inside a grave. It was massive, the bodies were arranged like clothes. One on top of another."

Mackenzie established Good News International Ministries in 2003, growing a following of thousands through branches across Kenya and a television station called Times TV. His sermons included conspiracy theories labelling education as evil, healthcare as against doctrine, and digital ID cards as the mark of the devil.

Stephen Mwiti, 48, lost all six of his children to the cult. Speaking to the BBC, he said: "If I met Pastor Mackenzie today, one of us will have to die." His former wife is among those accused alongside Mackenzie.

Peter Shukrani, 23, attended Mackenzie's church from age eight and described him as his "spiritual father". Rescued from the forest in March 2023, Shukrani said his mother threw away medicine because of the doctrine. Despite nearly dying, he told the BBC: "Mackenzie didn't force anyone to fast. People made those choices by themselves because of their beliefs. I still love him and he is still my pastor."

Mackenzie's son, Dan Paul Mackenzie, who worked as a cameraperson for the church, took a different view. "He was the leader, he was someone who they were looking [up to]. So he is a murderer of mass killing," he said.

The 298-page charge sheet lists all 191 victims as children. Many bodies remain unidentified due to advanced decomposition. Mackenzie and his co-accused also face additional cases for terrorism, radicalisation, and denying children education.

Mackenzie's former head of security, Enos Amanya Ngala, initially accused in the case, entered a plea deal and became a prosecution witness.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The trial tests Kenya's ability to prosecute mass atrocities linked to religious cults, with over 400 bodies recovered from the Shakahola forest.
The case highlights the vulnerability of followers to extreme doctrines that reject medicine and education, leading to the deaths of hundreds of children.
The verdict could set a legal precedent for holding cult leaders accountable for the deaths of followers who claimed to act voluntarily.

Background

Paul Mackenzie's Good News International Ministries operated for 16 years, attracting thousands of followers across Kenya. His doomsday teachings included conspiracy theories about education and healthcare, and he moved his followers to a remote forest community. By March 2023, herders discovered the first remains, leading to a large-scale exhumation. Mackenzie faces multiple legal cases, but this murder trial is the most serious.

Key Perspectives

Prosecution: Argues that Mackenzie ordered parents to starve their children to meet Jesus, resulting in 191 child deaths. The charges include murder, and gravediggers' testimony describes mass graves of children with hands and legs tied.

Defense (Mackenzie and co-accused): Plead not guilty to all murder charges, maintaining that no one was forced to die and that followers made their own choices based on faith.

Victims' families: Stephen Mwiti, who lost six children, holds Mackenzie directly responsible and expresses a desire for vengeance. The community was traumatized by the discovery of so many bodies.

Followers (Peter Shukrani): Despite nearly dying because of the ban on medicine, Shukrani continues to express love and loyalty toward Mackenzie, insisting that his actions were not forced.

What to Watch

The court's judgment on the murder charges, expected shortly.
The outcome of additional cases against Mackenzie for terrorism and radicalisation.
Potential appeals from either side, given the high profile of the case.
The identification process for the many unidentified child victims, which may lead to further charges or closure for families.

Sources

Kenya pastor accused of ordering parents to starve their children to death faces verdict · BBC News

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12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

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Partly supportedMackenzie and 29 followers are accused of murdering 191 children by starvation in the Shakahola forest.BBC News: “Mackenzie and 29 of his followers are being charged with the murder of 191 children.”
SupportedHeadline: Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie faces verdict over deaths of 191 children.BBC News: “A Kenyan court is set to deliver a judgement in a mass murder case involving doomsday preacher Paul Mackenzie. Mackenzie and 29 of his followers are being charged with the murder of 191 children.”
SupportedDoomsday preacher and 29 followers are accused of ordering starvation deaths so victims could 'meet Jesus'.BBC News: “His cult is alleged to have forced children to starve to death so that they could "meet Jesus".”
SupportedAuthorities said over 400 bodies were found in shallow graves in the Shakahola forest.BBC News: “Authorities said over 400 bodies were found in shallow graves in Shakahola forest near the Kenyan coast”
SupportedSome gravediggers were paid about $8 a day.BBC News: “Some were paid just $8 (£6) a day.”
SupportedJames, a gravedigger, said: 'Every grave we found had at least three bodies.'BBC News: “"Every grave we found had at least three bodies," James, one of the gravediggers, told the BBC.”
SupportedStephen Mwiti, 48, lost all six of his children to the cult and said: 'If I met Pastor Mackenzie today, one of us will have to die.'BBC News: “"If I met Pastor Mackenzie today, one of us will have to die," told the BBC.”
SupportedMackenzie's former head of security, Enos Amanya Ngala, was initially accused, then entered a plea deal and became a prosecution witness.BBC News: “Mackenzie's former head of security, Enos Amanya Ngala, was initially accused but then entered a plea deal and became a witness for the prosecution.”
SupportedPeter Shukrani said: 'Mackenzie didn't force anyone to fast. People made those choices by themselves because of their beliefs.'BBC News: “"Mackenzie didn't force anyone to fast. People made those choices by themselves because of their beliefs," Shukrani said.”
SupportedMackenzie's son Dan Paul Mackenzie said: 'So he is a murderer of mass killing.'BBC News: “"He was the leader, he was someone who they were looking [up to]. So he is a murderer of mass killing."”
SupportedThe 298-page charge sheet lists all 191 victims as children.BBC News: “In the 298 pages detailing the charges against him in the current case, all of the 191 victims Mackenzie and his followers are accused of murdering are children.”
SupportedMackenzie and his co-accused also face additional cases for terrorism, radicalisation, and denying children education.BBC News: “Mackenzie and other leaders of the cult are facing a raft of other legal cases, including for terrorism, radicalisation and denying education to children.”