Paul Mackenzie, the leader of a Kenyan cult accused of encouraging over 400 followers to starve themselves to death, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges. The case, known as the Shakahola Forest Massacre, is one of the worst instances of cult-related mass deaths in Kenya’s history.
Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed pastor, appeared in court in Mombasa alongside 94 other suspects. He was arrested last April after the discovery of 429 bodies, including children, in mass graves in Shakahola forest. Most of the bodies showed signs of starvation and assault.
The prosecution, led by Alexander Jami Yamina, will present over 400 witnesses over the next four days. The case is unique in Kenya, and the suspects will be prosecuted under a law relating to suicide pacts.
Mackenzie allegedly told his followers that they would reach heaven faster if they stopped eating. He is also facing two other trials: one for terrorism, which started in July, and another on child abuse charges, including subjecting children to torture, assault, and cruelty.
Survivors claim that children were ordered to starve themselves first, followed by the unmarried, women, men, and finally church leaders. Mackenzie set up his Good News International Church in 2003 but claimed to have closed it in 2019. He encouraged his followers to move to Shakahola forest and prepare for the end of the world to “meet Jesus”.
The authorities have released some victims’ bodies to relatives after months of identification through DNA tests. So far, 34 bodies have been returned. Mackenzie preached against formal education, calling it satanic, and encouraged mothers to avoid seeking medical attention during childbirth and not to vaccinate their children.
He was convicted last November of illegally operating a film studio associated with his preaching and distributing films without a valid filming license. Kenya is a deeply religious country, with 85% of the population identifying as Christian. There have been previous cases of people being lured into dangerous, unregulated churches or cults.
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