A court in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa has found a self-proclaimed religious leader and his associates guilty of the murders of 191 people, almost all of whom were children. Paul Mackenzie and several followers faced severe charges after his apocalyptic movement allegedly forced minors and adults to starve themselves to death under the pretext of 'meeting Jesus'. Prior to the verdict, the accused had maintained their innocence against multiple charges, including terrorism and radicalisation.
Mackenzie, a former taxi driver turned preacher, established the Good News International Ministries in 2003. The organisation steadily drew thousands of devotees through fiery sermons broadcast on television, where Mackenzie allegedly convinced followers that he could communicate directly with divine forces. Devotees were reportedly manipulated into selling personal properties and donating the proceeds to the church leadership.
The movement's ideology heavily relied on conspiracy theories that denounced formal education as 'evil' and banned followers from utilising modern medicine or sending children to school. Mackenzie’s teachings also featured strong anti-Western rhetoric, condemning international bodies and foreign governments. Following increased scrutiny, the group relocated to the remote Shakahola forest in Kilifi County in 2019.
Law enforcement authorities intervened in 2023 following a tip-off, leading to the grim discovery of shallow mass graves and numerous emaciated survivors within the dense forest. Forensic examinations revealed that while many victims perished from starvation, others showed signs of strangulation or blunt force trauma with bound limbs. Survivors reported that Mackenzie enforced a strict hierarchical starvation order, requiring children to fast first, followed by vulnerable adults.
Legal proceedings led to multiple criminal charges, and the organisation was officially proscribed as an organized criminal group. While this verdict addresses a significant portion of the accountability process, the tragedy remains one of the most devastating cult-related incidents in modern history, with hundreds still unaccounted for.
Source: www.aljazeera.com