Starvation cult head faces death penalty

THE DOCTRINE: The movement denounced formal education as satanic, cut followers off from the outside world and viewed modern medicine as instruments of the devil

The leader of a Kenyan starvation cult found guilty of murdering 190 children yesterday faced a possible death penalty during his sentencing.

Hundreds of bodies have been discovered since 2023 at the sect’s base near the coastal resort of Malindi, in what became known as the “Shakahola Forest Massacre.”

Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie was accused of inciting his followers to starve themselves to death to “meet Jesus.”

Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, center, waits with his coaccused for their sentence at the Mombasa Law Courts in Kenya yesterday.

Photo: AFP

Last month, he was convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult between January 2021 and September 2023, alongside 28 coaccused.

His lawyer said he would appeal.

He also faces separate manslaughter and terrorism charges, which he denies.

The former taxi driver appeared indifferent as he arrived in court, wearing a polo shirt and sporting a faint smile.

Francis Wanje, who lost two grandchildren, said he hoped Mackenzie would be sentenced to death to prevent further tragedies.

“Nothing can ease the pain,” said Wanje, who blamed authorities for failing to act swiftly. “I really have great [anger] towards the authorities. If they had taken action, we would not be here today.”

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions this week urged the court to sentence Mackenzie to death, citing the scale of the loss of life and the danger posed by his actions.

“The prosecution supports the imposition of capital punishment for Mackenzie, subject to consideration of his mitigation, remorse, regret and prospects of rehabilitation,” Public Prosecutions deputy director Jami Yamina said.

Although Kenya’s law provides for the death penalty, the country has not carried out an execution since 1987.

Prosecutors also asked the court to sentence Mackenzie’s coaccused to life imprisonment, saying they had “been deeply indoctrinated by Mackenzie and were at risk of reoffending.”

Witnesses said the movement denounced formal education as “satanic,” viewed modern medicine and hospitals as instruments of the devil and required followers to cut themselves off from the outside world.

Mackenzie was arrested in April 2023 after a rights group alerted authorities and some followers were rescued from the 325-hectare ranch in the Shakahola forest on Kenya’s coast.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights put the death toll at 429 in 2024. Some victims remain unidentified.