The Mombasa High Court is expected to deliver its verdict on Monday, October 19, in the trial of Paul Mackenzie and 29 co-defendants. They are accused of the alleged murder of 191 people, including many children. The case, linked to a religious movement that promoted extreme fasting, has renewed debate over the regulation of religious organisations in Kenya.
Three years after mass graves were first discovered in Shakahola Forest, in Kilifi County on Kenya’s coast, the courts are preparing to rule on one of the country’s most serious criminal cases in recent history. Self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie and 29 other defendants face charges connected to the deaths of 191 people, most of them children.
Since 2023, exhumations have uncovered at least 429 bodies, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. Some victims remain unidentified. Investigators believe many died after allegedly following extreme fasting practices imposed by Mackenzie, who reportedly promised his followers that they would meet Jesus after death.
According to prosecutors, the preacher allegedly established a disturbing hierarchy that prioritised the deaths of children, followed by teenagers, women, and men. Autopsy findings and police reports cite starvation, asphyxiation, strangulation, and head injuries as causes of death. However, defence lawyers dispute the evidence, arguing that the case relies partly on indirect testimonies and insufficient forensic findings.
Mackenzie was arrested in April 2023 following a report by a human rights organisation. He had previously been arrested in 2017 and 2019, but was acquitted in the first case and later released on bail. The discovery of mass graves sparked public outrage and raised questions about possible failures by the authorities.
Survivors have described isolation, violence, and deprivation of food and water. Bereaved families are demanding justice, while human rights advocates are calling for stronger oversight of religious movements to prevent similar tragedies.
Concerns remain as more bodies have been discovered in the region. In 2025, around 50 bodies were reportedly linked to the separate Kwa Binzaro case. Mackenzie also faces separate accusations involving manslaughter, child torture, and terrorism.
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