A Kenyan court has convicted self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie and 28 co-defendants for the murder of 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola Forest tragedy that shocked the country and drew international attention to the dangers of religious extremism.

The verdict was delivered by the High Court in Mombasa. The court found that Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, and his associates enforced a system of extreme fasting that led to the deaths of followers who believed they would enter heaven before the end of the world.

Mackenzie denied the murder charges, maintaining that he did not force his followers to starve themselves. However, Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache ruled that the prosecution had established the guilt of all 29 defendants in the case involving the deaths of 190 children and one adult.

The investigation began attracting national attention in 2023, when authorities discovered mass graves in Shakahola Forest in coastal Kilifi County. Subsequent recovery operations uncovered more than 400 bodies, although investigations into many of the deaths remain ongoing. The murder judgment covered 191 victims.

Prosecutors presented evidence that children were subjected to starvation, with some isolated and denied food. Investigators also examined allegations that Mackenzie’s followers were discouraged from seeking medical treatment and sending their children to school.

The tragedy raised serious questions about the monitoring of religious organisations and the response of law enforcement agencies to earlier warnings about Mackenzie’s activities. Kenyan President William Ruto previously acknowledged that government agencies should have prevented the deaths.

The conviction marks a significant development in one of Kenya’s most disturbing criminal cases. Mackenzie and his co-defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on November 6, 2026, while the preacher also faces separate charges connected to other deaths. He has denied the additional allegations.

The case has renewed calls for stronger safeguards against religious exploitation while highlighting the need for accountability, effective law enforcement and protection for vulnerable communities.

A Kenyan court has convicted cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 28 co-defendants over the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola Forest tragedy.