Paul Mackenzie, the leader of a Kenyan cult accused of encouraging over 400 followers to starve themselves to death, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges. The case, one of the deadliest cult-related mass deaths in Kenya’s history, has shocked the nation and drawn widespread attention.
Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed pastor, appeared in court in Mombasa on Monday alongside 94 other suspects. He was arrested in April after authorities discovered 429 bodies, including children, buried in mass graves in Shakahola, a remote forest about two hours west of Malindi. Many of the victims showed signs of severe starvation and assault.
“This is an unprecedented manslaughter case in Kenya,” prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina stated, adding that over 400 witnesses would testify in the case over the next four days. The prosecution plans to use a law related to suicide pacts to prosecute Mackenzie and the other suspects.
The horrifying details of the “Shakahola Forest Massacre” stunned Kenyans when the case first emerged last year. Mackenzie allegedly told his followers that they would reach heaven faster if they stopped eating. Survivors have revealed that his followers were instructed to starve in a specific order: first children, followed by the unmarried, then women, men, and finally church leaders.
Mackenzie founded the Good News International Church in 2003, claiming to have closed it in 2019. However, he continued to influence his followers, urging them to move to Shakahola Forest to prepare for the end of the world and “meet Jesus.” The forest, spanning 800 acres, was owned by Mackenzie and divided into areas with biblical names like Judea, Bethlehem, and Nazareth. The remote location had no mobile network, further isolating the followers.
In addition to the manslaughter charges, Mackenzie is also facing two other trials. One, which began in July, is for terrorism, and the other involves child abuse charges, including allegations of torture, assault, and cruelty to children. He has denied all charges.
Mackenzie’s teachings were extreme and dangerous. He preached that formal education was satanic and discouraged his followers from sending their children to school, seeking medical care during childbirth, or vaccinating their children. In 2017 and 2018, he was arrested for advising children to avoid school, claiming that education was not recognised in the Bible.
Mackenzie’s influence extended beyond education. In November, he was convicted of illegally operating a film studio associated with his preaching and distributing unlicensed films. He was sentenced to a year in prison for those charges.
The case has highlighted the dangers of unregulated religious practices in Kenya, a country where 85% of the population identifies as Christian. While religious belief is strong, there have been previous instances of individuals being lured into dangerous cults or unregulated churches. The “Shakahola Forest Massacre” serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of such practices.
In March, after months of DNA testing, authorities began releasing the bodies of some victims to their families, with 34 bodies returned so far. As the trials against Mackenzie continue, the nation remains gripped by the horrific details of this case and the broader implications for religious freedom and regulation in Kenya.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
