Kenyan cult leader guilty of starving 191 followers to death

A Kenyan court has convicted Paul Mackenzie, leader of a religious cult, of murdering 190 children and one adult after he instructed his followers to fast to death in order to reach heaven and meet Jesus before the end of the world. Twenty-eight co-defendants were convicted alongside him in a case that came to light following the discovery of mass graves in the Shakahola forest in the country's southeast.

Mackenzie, a former taxi driver who founded the Good News International Church, spread apocalyptic messages about the end of the world among his followers. According to reports, he convinced them to stop eating and to starve their children, claiming this would allow them to reach heaven before the world's destruction. He also opposed sending children to school and receiving medical treatment, which he presented as institutions of Satan.

Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie under arrest (Photo: Screenshot)

Testimony presented in the case revealed that the starvation plan was carried out in stages: first the children, then the women and young men, and finally the remaining men. Cult members lived in makeshift structures in the forest, in areas given biblical names.

The case was uncovered after police received information about children dying of starvation in the forest. Following the investigation, authorities began excavating the area and discovered mass graves containing hundreds of bodies. To date, more than 400 bodies have been recovered from the forest, including those of many children.

Mackenzie was arrested after the graves were discovered but denied forcing his followers to starve themselves. The court rejected his claims and convicted him and the other defendants of murder.

Sentencing for Mackenzie and his accomplices is scheduled for November 6. He is also facing additional charges related to other deaths, which he denies.