Kenyan sect leader convicted for mass starvation deaths

On October 19, 2026, a court in Kenya found cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 30 associates guilty for their role in the deaths of 190 children and one adult. Mackenzie, a former taxi driver who founded the Good News International Church, was convicted of orchestrating a system where followers were coerced into lethal fasting. The court rejected his defense that he did not force anyone to starve, noting evidence that some children were kept in isolation without food to ensure they would reach heaven before the end of the world.

The case emerged in 2023 following police reports that led to the discovery of shallow graves in the Shakahola Forest in the coastal Kilifi County. While over 400 bodies were discovered across the site during extensive investigations, the current verdict covers 191 specific victims. Most remains were found in advanced states of decomposition, and only 26 victims have been officially identified thus far.

The investigation into the remaining deaths found in the forest is ongoing. The High Court in Mombasa has scheduled the sentencing hearing for the convicted individuals for November 6, 2026.