Kenyan court convicts Paul Mackenzie over murders of 190 children and an adult

A Kenyan court found religious cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his associates guilty of murdering 190 children and one adult in Shakahola Forest. Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, Reuters reported.

The court found that followers of the Good News International Church were forced to fast while awaiting the end of the world. Mackenzie denied guilt, arguing that he had not forced anyone to stop eating, but the court rejected his defence.

Mackenzie was arrested in 2023 after an informant approached police. Investigators recovered more than 400 bodies from Shakahola Forest in southeastern Kenya. Prosecutors said only 26 victims had been identified.

Judge Diana Kavedza-Mochache said some children were starved while their parents watched. Investigators also found that Mackenzie had forbidden children from attending school and followers from seeking medical care.

The judgment concerns 191 deaths. Investigations into the other deaths continue, while the court will determine the defendants' punishment at the next stage of proceedings.