Shakahola: The red flags that preceded mass deaths

• The roots of the tragedy date back to 2003, when Mackenzie founded the Good News International ministry.
• Followers of Mackenzie who would later die in the Shakahola tragedy began moving to the forest in 2019.

The discovery of hundreds of bodies linked to religious extremism in shallow graves in Shakahola Forest from March 20, 2023 exposed a tragedy that had been years in the making.

At the centre was controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a charismatic televangelist whose teachings led followers to the wilderness in the belief that fasting to death would make them meet Jesus.

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  Family’s Russia hope shattered by DNA confirmation of Shakahola death

  For several months, the warder's family had remained hopeful that he travelled abroad.

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  Key issues in Mackenzie case ahead of ruling

  Prosecutors want court to convict Paul Mackenzie and 30 others of murder over 191 deaths.