Kenya: Sect Leader Convicted of Starving 191 Followers to Death

A court in Mombasa, in southeastern Kenya, convicted religious sect leader Paul Mackenzie on all charges in the case involving the deaths of 191 people, most of them children, from starvation. Mackenzie, who describes himself as a pastor, was accused of inciting his followers to starve themselves to death so that they could “meet Christ.” Mackenzie appeared in the courtroom facing the victims’ relatives, standing silently with no significant response. The sentencing hearing, presided over by Judge Diana Kavindza Moshashi, lasted more than eight hours on the previous day. The judge noted that children were isolated and denied food in front of their parents. The conviction covers 191 deaths, while more than 400 bodies have been exhumed from the forest so far; most had decomposed, and only 26 have been identified. Investigations continue into the remaining cases and other charges against the sect leader, including terrorism allegations. Mackenzie was arrested in 2017 on charges of “extremism” but was acquitted. He was arrested again in 2019 in connection with the deaths of two children in Shakahola and was released on bail.