Mackenzie and 28 Associates Guilty in Shakahola Murders

A Mombasa court found Paul Mackenzie and 28 associates guilty of murdering 191 people, including 190 children and one adult, in the Shakahola case. The court said the prosecution had proved the charges against all 29 defendants. Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2026. The verdict concerns deaths linked to a religious group based in Shakahola Forest, near the coastal town of Malindi. Authorities began uncovering shallow graves in 2023, after receiving reports that people in the area had died or were missing. More than 400 bodies have since been recovered, but the murder judgment covers 191 deaths. Investigations into other deaths are continuing. Prosecutors alleged that Mackenzie, who led the Good News International Church, urged followers to fast to meet Jesus and directed an order in which children were expected to die first. They said children died mainly from starvation, with some also suffering asphyxia, neck compression or traumatic head injuries. The allegations were presented during the trial; Mackenzie denied the murder charges, and his lawyers argued that the prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, hearsay and inconclusive forensic findings. The verdict...