The Mombasa court will issue its awaited ruling on Monday concerning the case of Paul McKenzie, the self-proclaimed Kenyan leader, and his accomplices. They are accused of murdering 191 people, mostly children, in a hunger cult. In 2023, hundreds of bodies were found in a remote area off the coast of Kenya in Malindi, in what became known as the "Shakahola Forest Massacre," one of the worst cult-related tragedies in the world.
Case Details and Allegations
Paul McKenzie and his accomplices confessed to 191 counts of unacceptable murder in 2024. He is also facing charges of murder and terrorism in separate cases. Since the discovery of the bodies, more victims, including children, women, and men, have been found in surrounding areas, bringing the total to over 400. Relatives of the victims are expected to attend the court, many of whom have traveled from rural communities along the coast to Mombasa.
Social Impact and Public Reactions
McKenzie is accused of encouraging his followers to starve themselves in order to "see Jesus." This case has not only impacted Kenya but has also led many people to call for stricter oversight of religious organizations. During the trial, over 120 witnesses testified about events between 2021 and 2023 on a 325-acre farm in Shakahola Forest. The prosecution alleges that McKenzie "initiated and led" severe hunger in a "hierarchy of death," resulting in the deaths of children first, followed by teenagers, women, and men. According to forensic and police evidence, children died from starvation and other causes such as suffocation and head injuries. McKenzie’s lawyers claim that the case is "primarily based on indirect evidence, hearsay accounts, and inconclusive forensic findings."
McKenzie was arrested in April 2023 after some of his followers were rescued and a human rights group alerted the authorities. Subsequent police operations uncovered hundreds of shallow mass graves, and discoveries were halted due to a lack of morgue space. In 2024, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported the death toll at 429. Some victims have yet to be identified. In January, McKenzie was charged for another 52 bodies found in a nearby village.
With a history of extremism, McKenzie has evaded authorities for years. He founded the International Good News Church in 2003 and established branches in Nairobi and along the Kenyan coast, attracting thousands of followers before announcing its closure in 2019. He was arrested and acquitted in 2017 on charges of "radicalization" and was arrested again in 2019 in Shakahola after the deaths of two children due to starvation.
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