Full Breakdown
Conviction of Paul Mackenzie and Co-Accused for Shakahola Mass Starvation
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The Verdict and Charges
On October 19, 2026, the Mombasa High Court found Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, and 28 co-accused guilty of murder for the deaths of 190 children and one adult. All 29 defendants were convicted on each of the 191 murder counts.
Background of the Good News International Church
Mackenzie founded the church in 2003 in Malindi and later operated Times TV. The sect taught that education and modern medicine were “evil” and that fasting to death would allow followers to “meet Jesus.” After police raids in 2017 and 2019, Mackenzie relocated his followers to an 800-acre ranch in Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County, where they lived in mud huts arranged into zones such as “Jerusalem” and “Judea.”
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Church established |
| 2017 | First police raid; Mackenzie arrested, later acquitted |
| 2019 | Relocation to Shakahola Forest |
| March 2023 | Resident reports mass starvation; police begin exhumations |
| April-July 2023 | Over 400 shallow graves uncovered |
| Oct 19 2026 | Murder verdict delivered |
| Oct 30 2026 | Court to hear mitigation submissions |
| Nov 6 2026 | Sentencing hearing |
Data & Statistics
- 191 murder counts (190 children, 1 adult).
- 429 bodies recovered, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
- Only 26 victims positively identified.
- Forensic reports attribute 72 deaths to starvation; others involve asphyxia, neck compression and blunt-head injury.
On-the-Ground Accounts
Survivors described brief fasting periods punctuated by a single small meal. Gravedigger Salim Karisa said, “We would sometimes carry people on our motorbikes into the forest,” noting many victims died in his arms. Stephen Mwiti, who lost six children, recalled a dusty TV set in his Malindi home broadcasting Mackenzie’s sermons.
Official Statements & Responses
Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache, delivering the judgment, said the prosecution had proved the case against all 29 accused. President William Ruto, who in 2023 said agencies should have prevented the deaths, pledged tighter oversight of religious organisations.
Criticism & Opposition
Family members expressed relief and lingering trauma. Francis Wanje, 62, who lost eight relatives, called the verdict “a very, very important day” and hoped it would deter similar tragedies.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total death toll: some cite “more than 400” bodies, others 429. Identification remains limited; forensic authorities have been unable to determine cause of death in over 100 cases due to advanced decomposition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case against all the 29 accused persons for the murder of 190 children and one adult,” — Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache
- “We would sometimes carry people on our motorbikes into the forest," said Salim Karisa, another gravedigger.” — Salim Karisa
- “All six of my children died in Shakahola forest,” — Stephen Mwiti
What’s Next
The court will hear mitigation submissions on October 30, 2026, before delivering sentences on November 6, 2026. Sentencing will determine whether the death penalty or life imprisonment is applied, under Kenya’s post-2017 framework that gives judges discretion in murder cases. Investigations continue into additional deaths uncovered beyond the 191 murder convictions.