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Kenyan starvation cult leader sentenced to 200 years for child murders
Developed over time first seen 1 day ago
Paul Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed preacher in Kenya, was sentenced to 200 years in prison for the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, in a starvation cult. The case has renewed calls for tighter oversight of religious organisations, after hundreds of bodies were found at the group’s base near Malindi.
The court imposed 100 years for homicide and 100 years for starvation-related offences; 28 co-accused also received lengthy sentences. Mackenzie urged followers to starve themselves to “meet Jesus”, and witnesses described children enduring severe suffering. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, but the judge said it would not deter followers who saw death as a path to heaven. Mackenzie’s lawyer plans to appeal.
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In short
- Mackenzie received a 200-year sentence over 191 deaths.
- The victims included 190 children.
- The case has prompted calls for stronger oversight of religious groups.
How this story developed
- 19 hours ago The ruling followed Mackenzie’s conviction the previous month, and his lawyer said he planned to appeal.
- 1 day ago The sentencing renewed calls for stronger oversight of religious groups, with scrutiny sharpened by reports that Mackenzie had been arrested twice before the deaths were discovered.
- 1 day ago Kenyan preacher Paul Mackenzie was sentenced to 200 years in prison over the deaths of 190 children and one adult in the Shakahola starvation cult, while 28 co-defendants also received lengthy terms.
Explained simply
Shakahola is a rural area in Kenya’s coastal region where members of a religious group led by preacher Paul Mackenzie lived. The group’s teachings linked fasting with salvation, and investigators found many people had died at its base.
Mackenzie is a preacher whose case has raised questions about how Kenya regulates religious organisations and responds to reports of harm within them. The deaths reported at Shakahola led to a wider investigation, while the cases against Mackenzie and others have been heard in court.
The reported death toll at the site is higher than the number of deaths covered by this case. The case also concerns how responsibility for those deaths is assessed under Kenyan law.
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Originally published by CNA as “Kenyan starvation cult leader sentenced to 200 years for child murders”.