More than 400 bodies were recovered from Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County after an investigation into the starvation deaths of two children led police to an isolated settlement where followers were practising extreme fasting. Many of the dead were children, and the discoveries brought national attention to the teachings and activities of the preacher at the centre of the case.

Paul Nthenge Mackenzie’s path to religious leadership began far from the forest. After moving to Likoni, Mombasa, he earned a living as a hawker, pushing a handcart and selling flour before venturing into the taxi business in Malindi.

In 2003, he founded Good News International Church, where his teachings increasingly focused on the end of the world.

Over time, followers were discouraged from pursuing formal education, using modern medicine and obtaining government identification documents. Some moved to Shakahola Forest, where fasting became central to their religious practice. The deaths uncovered in 2023 would lead to a major criminal case against Mackenzie and others.

From church teachings to the Shakahola deaths

The scale of the tragedy emerged in 2023 after investigations into the starvation deaths of two children led police to Shakahola Forest. In April, 2023, officers discovered shallow graves and rescued survivors who were severely malnourished.

Search operations expanded as investigators uncovered more graves and recovered more than 400 bodies, many belonging to children. Survivors described a system in which Mackenzie’s teachings shaped daily life and encouraged followers to deny themselves food, with children also caught up in the practice.

The discoveries raised questions about how the deaths had continued and whether earlier warnings could have prevented further loss of life. Investigations also focused on the control exercised over followers and their access to basic needs, including food, education and medical care.

Mackenzie and his co-accused were charged with 191 counts of murder in 2024. In January 2026, former associate Enos Amanya pleaded guilty to the same counts. On April 15, 2026, High Court Judge Diana Kavedza-Mochache ruled that Mackenzie and 30 co-accused had a case to answer.

What the 191-count conviction means

On October 19, 2026, the court found Mackenzie guilty of all 191 murder counts, relating to the deaths of 190 children and one adult. The verdict followed proceedings examining the deaths and the circumstances surrounding the starvation of followers in Shakahola.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2026. Under Section 203 of the Penal Code, murder involves the unlawful killing of another person with malice aforethought. Section 204 provides for the death penalty, but the Supreme Court’s 2017 Muruatetu decision ruled that its mandatory imposition was unconstitutional.

The court must consider the circumstances of the offences and the individual roles of those convicted when determining sentence. Life imprisonment remains a possible outcome, while any death sentence would be subject to appeal. Kenya has not carried out an execution since 1987.

Other Shakahola cases remain unresolved

The conviction covers the 191 murder counts before the court, but it does not conclude all legal proceedings connected to Shakahola. Separate cases involving radicalisation, organised crime and additional deaths remain ongoing.

The wider investigations have drawn attention to the challenges of identifying and responding to harmful practices within religious settings, particularly where children depend entirely on adults for food, schooling and healthcare.

For investigators and the courts, the remaining cases will examine other aspects of the events in Shakahola. For families seeking answers, the conviction marks a significant development, while the wider legal process continues.