In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 93 others face manslaughter charges over the deaths of over 400 followers in the Shakahola Forest tragedy.
- The trial, starting in Mombasa, is noted for its uniqueness in Kenyan legal history, with allegations of incitement to starvation and other crimes.
On Monday, the leader of a Kenyan starvation sect, self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, went on trial for manslaughter over the deaths of more than 400 followers in one of the world’s most tragic cult-related incidents.
Mackenzie, along with 93 other suspects, appeared in a magistrate’s court in Mombasa. The group had pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of manslaughter earlier in January, as part of the case known as the “Shakahola Forest Massacre.”
Prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina described the case as unprecedented in Kenya, highlighting its uniqueness under the Kenyan law addressing suicide pacts.
Mackenzie is accused of encouraging his followers to starve to death to “meet Jesus,” a directive that shocked Kenya and the global community.
His arrest followed the discovery of several bodies in the remote Shakahola forest near Malindi, leading to a lengthy search that uncovered around 448 bodies from mass graves.
Autopsies revealed that most victims died of starvation, while others, including children, had been strangled, beaten, or suffocated. Some bodies also had organs removed.
Among the 95 defendants are Mackenzie’s wife and other sect members. One accused woman died in police custody due to illness and the effects of fasting.
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Prosecutors have prepared 420 witnesses, with some testimonies expected to be presented behind closed doors.
The trial, which began last month, also includes charges of terrorism, murder, and child cruelty related to the massacre from 2020 to 2023.
The investigation has led to the release of some victims’ bodies to their families, with 34 returned so far. Mackenzie had established the Good News International Church in 2003 but closed it in 2019 to prepare for what he predicted would be the end of the world.
The case has prompted calls for stricter regulation of fringe religious groups and raised questions about how Mackenzie managed to evade law enforcement despite a history of extremism and previous legal issues.
A commission set up by President William Ruto recommended a hybrid model of self-regulation and government oversight for religious bodies.
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