Mackenzie, 28 Others Found Guilty of Murdering 191 People in Shakahola

Controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 28 co-accused have been found guilty of murdering 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi County.

The convictions were secured by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) following a trial over deaths linked to the fasting activities conducted at Shakahola in Malindi between January 2021 and September 2023.

In a statement on Monday, October 19, the ODPP announced the outcome of the case, marking a major development in the prosecution of one of Kenya’s deadliest cult-related tragedies.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, CBS, OGW, has today secured the conviction of controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 28 co-accused for the murder of 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola massacre," the statement read.

Delivering the judgment at the Mombasa High Court, Lady Justice Diana Kavedza found the accused persons guilty of all 191 murder counts arising from the deaths at Shakahola.

The court examined evidence showing that religious teachings and a structured leadership system were used to direct followers to undertake deadly fasting, with the prosecution linking the activities to the deaths of hundreds of people.

Justice Kavedza found that Mackenzie’s followers were influenced through an established religious and communications network before being directed to relocate to the settlement, where they were instructed to fast.

"The evidence before me establishes precisely such a development. Mackenzie’s followers were first whipped through an established religious and communications network. They were subsequently directed to relocate. Once at the settlement, they were directed to fast," Justice Kavedza ruled.

According to the ODPP, the court further found that instructions to fast to death were communicated through village elders, reinforced during regular meetings and enforced through an organised system. 

The fasting was conducted in stages, beginning with children, while guards controlled movement and prevented followers from escaping.

Justice Kavedza also found that Good News International Church, which Mackenzie established in 2010, operated as a cult. 

The prosecution presented evidence about the teachings and practices used to influence followers and isolate them from the wider community.

"The court heard evidence that Mackenzie preached the imminent end of the world, discouraged modern medicine and formal education, isolated followers from outsiders and encouraged fasting as a means of entering heaven," the statement read.

The prosecution also presented evidence detailing the treatment of children at the settlement, including allegations that minors were restrained and denied food. 

Witnesses described the suffering of children and the deaths of siblings and other minors, as well as punishment for attempting to eat or escape.

"The prosecution also presented evidence that children were restrained, denied food and punished for attempting to eat or escape. Witnesses described witnessing the suffering and deaths of siblings and other minors," the statement added.

To support the murder charges, the ODPP presented testimony from 123 witnesses, including child victims and adult accomplice witnesses. 

The evidence was supported by digital recordings, social media content, medical and forensic reports, DNA analysis, physical exhibits, journals belonging to deceased persons and expert testimony.

Investigators also presented evidence concerning the recovery of bodies from burial sites across the Shakahola settlement. 

The ODPP said the findings showed that the victims had been buried in graves located in several homesteads and mass graves.

"Crime-scene evidence showed that bodies were exhumed from graves across several homesteads and from mass graves, including one containing 12 bodies and another site with several graves holding 63 bodies," the statement further read.

At the same time, prosecution witness Dr Njoroge produced 190 postmortem samples relating to deceased minors. 

Medical evidence attributed 76 deaths to starvation, while 112 were classified as having unascertained causes. 

One death was attributed to a traumatic head injury, another to manual neck compression, and one to asphyxia with features of starvation.

The court also considered evidence concerning how the settlement was organised and how those directing the fasting activities allegedly sought to avoid detection by authorities.

"The court also considered evidence that burial rites were conducted at unusual hours to avoid detection and that the settlement was divided into 12 villages to facilitate administration and enforcement of the fasting directives," the statement read.

The convicted persons include Mackenzie, his deputy pastor Smart Deri Mwakalama, Stephen Sanga Muye and 26 others.

Two other accused persons, Kelvin Saudi Asena and Edison Safari Mnyambo, died during the trial. The DPP subsequently withdrew the murder charges against them.