A Kenyan court has sentenced self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for his role in the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, who allegedly starved to death after following his extreme religious teachings.
Mackenzie was convicted alongside 28 others over the deaths recorded in Shakahola Forest, near Kenya’s coastal region, where members of his religious group were reportedly instructed to fast until they died in preparation to meet Jesus.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Diana Mochache said Mackenzie bore the greatest responsibility for directing the deadly fasting practices.
The court handed him 100 years for homicide and another 100 years for offences connected to starvation. Although the sentences within each category will run concurrently, the two categories will be served consecutively, bringing his total prison term to 200 years.
According to the BBC, the judge described the killings as deliberate and calculated, adding that the punishment was intended to demonstrate the consequences of such crimes.
The 28 co-defendants, including individuals accused of enforcing the fasting instructions and helping to bury victims, also received prison sentences ranging up to 160 years.
Prosecutors had requested the death penalty for Mackenzie, but the judge declined, explaining that capital punishment would eliminate the possibility of rehabilitation.
The case attracted international attention in 2023 after authorities discovered numerous bodies buried in shallow graves in Shakahola Forest.
More than 400 bodies have since been recovered from the site. Investigations indicated that victims died through various means, including starvation, suffocation, strangulation and head injuries.
Mackenzie established Good News International Ministries in 2003 and reportedly became known for preaching against formal education and healthcare, which he portrayed as evil.
He later moved to Shakahola Forest, where he encouraged followers to join him and adhere to his religious teachings.
However, Mackenzie and his co-defendants denied the accusations, maintaining that nobody was forced to die.
The preacher is also facing separate charges of manslaughter and terrorism, which he has equally denied.
