Mombasa Court Set To Deliver Verdict In Paul Mackenzie’s 191-Count Murder Trial Over Shakahola Starvation Cult

A Mombasa High Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Monday, October 19, 2026, in the high-profile trial of self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie and his 30 co-accused, who face 191 counts of murder following the horrific starvation deaths of hundreds of followers, mostly children.

The case stems from the “Shakahola Forest Massacre,” which came to light in April 2023 when authorities uncovered hundreds of shallow mass graves on an 800-acre ranch in Kilifi County. What began as a rescue operation by police and human rights groups revealed one of the world’s most deadly cult-related tragedies. Over 400 bodies—including children, women, and men—have since been exhumed, though many remain unidentified.

The Trial and Prosecution’s Case

Lady Justice Diana Kavedza-Mochache presided over the trial, hearing testimony from 121 witnesses, including survivors, victims’ relatives, investigating officers, and medical experts.

• Directing the “Hierarchy of Death”: Prosecutors alleged that Mackenzie initiated and enforced an extreme fast designed to make followers “meet Jesus” before the end of the world. Evidence presented indicated a structured succession of deaths, prioritizing children first, followed by teenagers, women, and finally men.

• Cause of Death: Autopsy and forensic findings revealed that while most victims succumbed to severe malnutrition, others died from asphyxia, neck compression, and blunt force head trauma.

• Common Intention: State prosecutors argued that Mackenzie operated with a network of village elders, guards, grave diggers, and cooks who facilitated the enforced fasting and burials within the isolated compound.

Defense and Broader Legal Troubles

Mackenzie and his co-accused have maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings. Defense counsel argued that the state’s case relies primarily on circumstantial evidence, hearsay, and inconclusive forensic analysis.

In addition to the 191 murder charges in Mombasa, Mackenzie faces separate legal proceedings involving charges of manslaughter, terrorism, torture, and cruelty toward children across different courts.

National Impact and Calls for Regulation

Victims’ family members, many traveling from rural coastal communities, assembled at the Mombasa Law Courts for the decision.

The exposure of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church—which operated despite his previous arrests in 2017 and 2019—has drawn intense scrutiny over state intelligence oversights and sparked calls across Kenya for stricter government oversight of religious organizations.