Paul Mackenzie, the self‑styled pastor who commanded his followers to starve their offspring so they could “meet Jesus”, has been found guilty of 191 counts of murder. The court in Mombasa handed down its verdict on 19 October 2026, concluding an eight‑hour judgment that exposed a pattern of extreme deprivation, violence and deception. Twenty‑eight fellow cult leaders were also convicted on murder charges, bringing the total number of guilty verdicts to 29. The sentencing is scheduled for 6 November.
The Cult’s Dark Doctrine
Justice Diana Mochache explained that Mackenzie’s adherents viewed him as “Jesus’s mouthpiece”. His teachings denounced formal education as forbidden and branded modern medicine “evil”. Followers were instructed to fast until death, a practice the judge described as “weddings” in which those who died were said to have “wedded with Jesus”. One co‑accused later recounted that Mackenzie declared anyone who “resisted the directive to fast must be forced to go to heaven through kicks and blows”.
A witness recalled a pregnant woman who was barred from nursing her newborn. “She was instructed to fast to death and follow her children,” the witness said. The doctrine extended to other aspects of daily life: digital identity cards were labelled “the mark of the devil”, and healthcare was deemed “against the doctrine”. These beliefs underpinned a regime of starvation, strangulation and, in some cases, brutal beatings.
Evidence Uncovered in Shakahola Forest
The investigation began in 2023 after more than 400 bodies were exhumed from shallow graves in the Shakahola forest near the Kenyan coast. Seventeen men from a nearby town were hired for the grisly task, earning as little as $8 a day. “Every grave we found had at least three bodies,” James, one of the gravediggers, told the BBC. “Some of the remains were of children as young as a few weeks old.”
James described a particularly harrowing discovery: “We once found 12 bodies of children in a line inside a grave. It was massive, the bodies were arranged like clothes. One on top of another.” Some of the young victims had “hands and legs tied and bodies wrapped in bedsheets”. The forest became a burial ground where the dead were celebrated as having “wedded with Jesus”.
Local residents, including Salim Karisa, a gravedigger, recalled how cult members would sometimes ferry people into the forest on motorbikes. “But it was so planned and secretive that nobody could tell what was happening inside,” he said. The community’s daily life was marked by mud houses, intermittent fasting and the constant fear of punishment for disobedience.
Sentencing and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Mackenzie was arrested in 2023, shortly after the mass graves were discovered. His former head of security, Enos Amanya Ngala, initially faced charges but later entered a plea deal and testified for the prosecution. In addition to the murder convictions, Mackenzie and other leaders face a raft of other charges, including terrorism, radicalisation and denial of education to children. This marks the first time the pastor has faced a verdict on the most serious allegations.
Family members offered contrasting views. Stephen Mwiti, who lost all six of his children to the cult, expressed relief at the convictions: “I’m a happy man, that all persons have been convicted,” he told the BBC outside court. His former wife was among those found guilty. In contrast, Mackenzie’s son, Dan Paul Mackenzie, stated that his father should be held accountable: “He was the leader, he was someone who they were looking [up to]. So he is a murderer of mass killing.”
Impact on Families and Community
The tragedy reverberated far beyond the courtroom. Many of the bodies remain unidentified, listed in court documents as “unknown male child” and referenced only by grave location and discovery date. Survivors like Peter Shukrani, who fell ill while living in the forest, owe their lives to rescue efforts. “My mother would throw away all the medicine I was supposed to take because she believed that only God could heal me,” he said. “I would have died if I wasn’t rescued from Shakahola forest.”
Despite the horrors, some followers maintain their belief in Mackenzie. Shukrani, even after his ordeal, described him as “a good person who cares for me” and insisted, “Mackenzie didn’t force anyone to fast. People made those choices by themselves because of their beliefs.” His devotion persists: “I still love him and he is still my pastor.”
Why it Matters
The conviction of Paul Mackenzie and his accomplices marks a pivotal moment in Kenya’s fight against extremist cults that exploit vulnerable families and children. It underscores the urgent need for stronger safeguards to prevent the denial of education, healthcare and basic human rights under the guise of religious doctrine. The case also highlights the long‑term psychological scars left on survivors and communities, demanding comprehensive rehabilitation programmes and support for grieving families. By delivering justice, the Kenyan legal system sends a clear message that such atrocities will not be tolerated, reinforcing democratic values and the protection of the most vulnerable citizens.