Paul Mackenzie was convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult after allegedly urging followers to starve themselves to death in the belief that they would meet Jesus.
A Kenyan court has sentenced self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for the murder of 190 children and one adult in one of the country’s deadliest religious cult tragedies.
Mackenzie was accused of persuading members of his Good News International Church to starve themselves to death in a bid to reach heaven and meet Jesus.
The case is linked to the Shakahola Forest Massacre, which came to light in 2023 after hundreds of bodies were discovered in a forest near the coastal town of Malindi.
Investigations revealed that followers had allegedly been subjected to extreme fasting practices, with children among the victims.
The discovery of the mass graves triggered widespread outrage in Kenya and raised serious concerns about the activities of religious groups operating without adequate oversight.
