Paul Mackenzie and 94 others to be charged in connection with 400 deaths in Shakahola
A Kenyan cult leader, Paul Mackenzie, is set to face charges of murder and terrorism in connection with the deaths of over 400 people found in mass graves. Prosecutors in Kenya have stated that Mackenzie and 94 others will be charged in court in Malindi. The bodies, including children, were discovered in Shakahola, a remote forest west of Malindi, with some individuals allegedly starving themselves to death.
Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed pastor, was arrested in April following the grim discovery. Prosecutors assert that he encouraged members of his Good News International Church to relocate to Shakahola and prepare for an impending apocalypse. Witnesses claim that instructions were given to fast, with the goal of reaching heaven. However, Mackenzie denies responsibility, contending that his church closed in 2019.
The bodies of 429 individuals were exhumed from mass graves, leading to investigations and Mackenzie’s arrest. The charges include murder, assault, and “facilitating the commission of a terrorist act.” Out of the 95 suspects, 64 were initially treated as victims but were later found to have children who died in the forest. Mackenzie had previously been convicted in November for operating a film studio associated with his preaching without a valid filming license.