Paul Mackenzie, the leader of a Kenyan starvation cult, faces a potential death sentence as he is set to be sentenced on Friday for his role in the deaths of 190 children. The convictions stem from the grim discovery of hundreds of bodies in the Shakahola Forest, an event that has become known as the 'Shakahola Forest Massacre'.
Mackenzie, a former taxi driver and self-proclaimed pastor of the Good News International Church, was accused of instructing his followers to starve themselves to death to 'meet Jesus'. He was convicted last month along with 28 co-accused. His lawyer has indicated an intention to appeal the verdict.
Prosecutors are advocating for the death penalty, citing the immense loss of life and the danger posed by Mackenzie's actions. "The prosecution supports the imposition of capital punishment for Mackenzie, subject to consideration of his mitigation, remorse, regret and prospects of rehabilitation," stated Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina. While Kenya's law allows for capital punishment, the country has not carried out an execution since 1987. The prosecution is also seeking life imprisonment for Mackenzie's co-accused, who they believe were heavily influenced by him and pose a risk of reoffending.
During the trial, approximately 120 prosecution witnesses testified. Evidence presented suggested the cult rejected formal education, viewed modern medicine as evil, and isolated followers from the outside world. Mackenzie was arrested in April 2023 after a human rights group alerted authorities. At that time, some followers were rescued from the 325-hectare forest ranch.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported a death toll of 429 in 2024, with many victims still unidentified. The case has intensified calls for stricter regulation of religious organizations, especially after revelations that Mackenzie had been arrested twice previously but released.
Victims' families shared their profound grief and anger. Francis Wanje, who lost two grandchildren, expressed hope for the death penalty to prevent future tragedies, also criticizing authorities for a delayed response. "Nothing can ease the pain," Wanje told AFP. "I really have great (anger) towards the authorities. If they had taken action, we would not be here today."
Stephen Mwiti, who lost all six of his children after his wife took them to the sect in 2022, recounted the ordeal. "Even if he were to be hanged, I will never see my children again," Mwiti, 48, told Reuters. His son Samuel, around seven years old at the time of his death, was one of the few whose remains were identified. Post-mortem examinations revealed that some children, like Samuel, had been strangled, contradicting Mackenzie's defense that no one was forced to starve.
Many of the bodies recovered were severely decomposed, making identification difficult. Mwiti expressed a wish for the defendants, including his wife, to be held in solitary confinement if jailed, to prevent them from influencing other prisoners. He is haunted by the absence of his children, saying that seeing other children sometimes startles him.
Mackenzie's arrest in 2023 followed a tip-off, leading to the discovery of shallow graves in the Shakahola Forest. Authorities later linked dozens more bodies found in a nearby village to the cult. The case is considered one of the most devastating cult-related tragedies in recent history.
