Kenyan Cult Leader Convicted of 191 Murders, Including 190 Children

A court in Mombasa delivered the verdict on Monday, convicting Mackenzie and 28 co-defendants on all 191 murder counts.

Mackenzie's Good News International Church used religious teachings and a hierarchy of village elders to organize and enforce fatal fasting, urging followers to starve themselves and their children to meet Jesus. Justice Diana Kavedza rejected the defense argument that victims had voluntarily fasted to death. The court heard that Mackenzie initiated and directed extreme fasting, claiming a structured hierarchy of death where children were expected to die first.

He also instructed believers to reject schools and healthcare, branding them as satanic. Sentencing is scheduled for November 6. Mackenzie's lawyer stated the defense intends to appeal the verdict. The case began in 2023 after police rescued emaciated followers, leading to the discovery of hundreds of bodies in shallow graves. A total of 429 bodies were recovered from Shakahola Forest.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights accused security officials of gross abdication of duty and negligence for ignoring warnings dating back to 2017. Mackenzie's eldest son, Dan Mackenzie, reported that his younger siblings were still being forced to fast as recently as two weeks ago, leading to the rescue of eight children, including his five siblings.