Leader of Kenyan doomsday cult convicted of 191 murders

The leader of a Kenyan doomsday cult linked to more than 400 deaths has been convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult after ordering followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus.

Justice Diana Kavedza ruled that Pastor Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, oversaw an organised system that used religious teachings to compel followers to fast until they died.

In 2023, more than 400 bodies were exhumed from shallow graves on the 800-acre Chakama Ranch in coastal Kilifi County, where Mackenzie’s followers lived in mud huts, away from the scrutiny of local communities and authorities.

Mackenzie was arrested and charged with murder alongside his wife and dozens of his followers. Some followers later became prosecution witnesses in the case. The trial began in 2023.

He has denied all charges, saying he did not force his followers to fast.

A mitigation hearing will be held on October 30 while sentencing is scheduled for November 6.

The court found that the directive to fast to death was implemented by targeting children first, while guards were deployed to prevent them from escaping, beating those who attempted to escape or eat.

Mackenzie also told his followers to shun education and healthcare.

In her ruling on Monday, Justice Kavedza said that “medical treatment was presented as an instrument of Satan”.

In April last year, the court of appeal allowed the prosecutor to proceed with 191 murder charges against Mackenzie and his co-accused.

In May 2024, the high court directed prosecutors to reduce the murder charges to no more than 12 counts.

But the Court of Appeal ruled that the law does not limit the number of charges that can be brought against a defendant.