Kenyan Cult Leader Convicted in Deaths of Over 400 Followers

A Kenyan cult leader has been convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult, authorities announced Monday. Pastor Paul Mackenzie, the leader of the Good News International Church, was found guilty of overseeing a system that used religious teachings to compel followers to fast until death.

The conviction follows the 2023 discovery of more than 400 bodies exhumed from shallow graves on an 800-acre ranch in coastal Kilifi County, where Mackenzie's followers lived in isolated conditions. Mackenzie was arrested alongside his wife and dozens of followers, with some later testifying as prosecution witnesses.

The trial, which began in 2023, heard that the directive to fast to death targeted children first. Guards were reportedly deployed to prevent escape and to punish those who attempted to eat. Mackenzie also instructed followers to shun education and healthcare, with Justice Diana Kavedza noting in her ruling that "medical treatment was presented as an instrument of Satan."

Mackenzie has denied the charges, stating he did not force his followers to fast. A mitigation hearing is scheduled for October 30, with sentencing set for November 6.

The Court of Appeal had previously allowed prosecutors to proceed with 191 murder charges against Mackenzie and his co-accused. While the High Court had directed prosecutors to reduce the number of charges, the Court of Appeal ruled that there is no limit to the number of charges a defendant can face.

For victims' families, the conviction brings a measure of relief and hope that it will deter similar exploitation by religious leaders. "Finally, as a family, we can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Mackenzie and all those who caused the deaths of my family members have been convicted," William Ponda Ngala, whose mother, brother, and nephews died, told The Associated Press.