Mombasa Court Convicts Mackenzie and 28 Others in Shakahola Case

A Mombasa High Court judge convicted preacher Paul Mackenzie and 28 co-defendants of murdering 191 people, including 190 children and one adult, in the Shakahola case on October 19, 2026. Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache said the prosecution had proved the case against all 29 defendants. Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, with probation or mitigation proceedings set for October 30. The verdict concerns deaths linked to followers of the Good News International Church in Shakahola Forest, near the coastal town of Malindi. Prosecutors said Mackenzie urged followers to fast to meet Jesus and directed a system in which children were expected to die first. The court found the defendants guilty; Mackenzie had denied forcing victims to starve. According to the prosecution’s account at trial, most of the children died from starvation, while some also suffered asphyxia, neck compression or traumatic head injuries. Mackenzie’s lawyers argued that the case relied on circumstantial evidence, hearsay and inconclusive forensic findings. The court rejected his denial of responsibility in returning its verdict. Authorities began uncovering shallow graves in the forest in 2023 after reports...