A Kenyan court has sentenced controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie to 200 years in prison over the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, in one of the country’s deadliest cult-related tragedies.
The High Court in Mombasa handed down the sentence on Friday, November 6, 2026, after finding Mackenzie guilty of orchestrating a deadly religious fasting programme that led to the deaths of his followers.
Mackenzie, who founded and led the Good News International Church, was accused of manipulating members of his church into starving themselves and their children in the belief that doing so would bring them closer to Jesus Christ.
According to the court, he received two separate 100-year prison sentences: one for the deaths of 190 children and another for the death of an adult. The sentences will run consecutively, bringing his total prison term to 200 years.
The case, widely known as the Shakahola massacre, came to public attention in April 2023 after authorities discovered bodies buried in shallow graves in Shakahola Forest, located in Kenya’s coastal Kilifi County.
Investigations revealed that followers were subjected to extreme fasting, with children reportedly targeted first before the practice was extended to women and men.
The court also found that some victims were forced to comply with the deadly instructions through intimidation, beatings and confinement.
Mackenzie was convicted alongside 28 co-accused on October 19, 2026, following a trial that exposed the extent of the tragedy.
Authorities have recovered more than 400 bodies from the wider Shakahola area, although the murder charges in the case involved 191 victims.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in Kenya and renewed calls for stronger government oversight of religious organisations to prevent similar tragedies.
ALSO READ:Former Catholic Priest Takes Unexpected Step After Years in Kenya
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
