Kenyan cult leader sentenced to 200 years for starvation deaths of 190 children

A Kenyan court has sentenced cult leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for the murder of 190 children. The verdict, delivered by Justice Diana Kavedza on Friday, November 6, 2026, includes 100 years for murder by starvation and 100 years for direct homicide. These children were among approximately 500 suspected victims whose remains were recovered from the Shakahola Forest near the Indian Ocean coast.

Prosecutors established that Mackenzie, leader of an apocalyptic church, commanded his followers to starve themselves and their children to reach heaven before the end of the world. Evidence presented in court revealed that accomplices used violence and threats to ensure compliance, with some victims buried alive or found in latrines. Mackenzie, who denied the charges, stood trial alongside 28 accomplices who received sentences ranging from 10 to 160 years.

This case marks one of the most severe cult-related mass killings in recent history. While many bodies were too decomposed for identification, the tragedy has left families like that of Stephen Mwiti seeking justice for their lost relatives. Despite the sentencing, survivors and relatives expressed lingering fears that Mackenzie’s influence could persist, advocating for his isolation to prevent him from radicalizing other prisoners.