Kenyan court convicts Pastor Mackenzie, 28 others over deaths of 191 people

A Kenyan court has convicted controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 28 others over the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi County.

The Mombasa High Court delivered the judgment on Monday, with Justice Diana Kavedza-Mochache ruling that the deaths occurred under an organised system that used religious doctrines to impose and enforce deadly fasting.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations, DCI, announced the convictions in a statement posted on its X handle, describing the ruling as a landmark development in the case.

According to the agency, the court established that religious teachings and a structured hierarchy were used to control followers and compel them to engage in extreme fasting that resulted in multiple deaths.

The DCI said followers were directed to move to Shakahola, where fasting was allegedly enforced in phases, starting with children. Guards were also said to have prevented followers from escaping the practice.

The convictions followed an extensive investigation and prosecution that relied on testimony from 123 witnesses, including child victims. The agency said their accounts were supported by digital recordings, forensic and medical reports, DNA analysis, physical exhibits and expert testimony.

Investigators documented bodies recovered from homesteads and mass graves during crime scene examinations. Medical findings established that 76 victims died from starvation, among other causes identified through 190 postmortem examinations.

The court also found that Good News International Church, founded by Mackenzie in 2010, operated as a cult. The church allegedly preached the imminent end of the world, discouraged followers from seeking medical treatment and education, isolated members and promoted extreme fasting as a pathway to heaven.

The DCI said the court praised investigators for their work in documenting crime scenes, conducting exhumations, carrying out forensic pathology examinations and preserving evidence. It noted that these efforts “laid a firm foundation for the administration of justice.”

Welcoming the verdict, the agency described it as an important step towards securing justice for the victims and their families.

“The DCI welcomes the judgment as a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families,” the statement said.

The agency added that the case demonstrated the importance of comprehensive investigations, forensic expertise and evidence-based prosecutions in ensuring that individuals responsible for serious crimes are held accountable.