Kenyan Pastor Paul Mackenzie Convicted of 191 Murders

On October 19, 2026, a High Court in Mombasa convicted Paul Mackenzie, founder of the Good News International Church, and 28 co-defendants of murdering 191 individuals, including 190 children. The court found that the group had ordered followers to starve themselves and their children to attain heaven.

Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache presided over the trial, which revealed an organized system of coercion through religious teachings that compelled followers to fast until death. The defendants denied the charges, claiming the victims had not been forced to starve.

However, the court rejected this defense, establishing the defendants' responsibility for the deaths. Evidence showed that children were particularly vulnerable, with some isolated from food while parents observed.

The case gained international attention in 2023 after mass graves were discovered in Shakahola Forest, leading to investigations that uncovered over 400 bodies. The judgment specifically addressed 191 deaths, with investigations into additional fatalities ongoing.