Nairobi:Kenyan courts have found preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 28 co-defendants guilty of murdering 191 individuals, including 190 children, in the Shakahola forest in 2023. The case, which was decided on October 19, 2026, involved allegations that the preacher encouraged his followers to fast until death to "meet Jesus" in heaven, anticipating an imminent end of the world. Sentencing is set for November 6.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Judge Diana Kavedza Mochache determined that the prosecution successfully established the defendants' guilt in the murders. The judge dismissed the defense's claim that the victims had voluntarily chosen to starve themselves.

The Shakahola case revolved around the deaths of members from the Good News International Church, led by Mackenzie. The preacher allegedly motivated his followers to engage in extreme fasting practices, leading to their deaths, as part of his apocalyptic predictions. The trial, which commenced in 2024, included testimony from numerous witnesses.

The tragic events came to light in April 2023 when authorities in Kenya began exhuming bodies in the Shakahola forest, located in Kilifi County near the coast. Mass graves containing the remains of Mackenzie’s followers were uncovered during these excavations.

A total of 429 bodies were retrieved from the forest, with the October 19 verdict addressing 191 of these deaths. The discovery of the mass graves triggered widespread emotional reactions in Kenya and reignited discussions on the regulation of religious organizations and the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals.

As of the verdict date, the court had yet to announce the length of the sentences for Mackenzie and his co-defendants, with a decision expected on November 6.