Paul Mackenzie, the founder of the Good News International Church, along with 95 followers, faces multiple charges, including murder and terrorism, in connection with the deaths of an estimated 429 individuals in Kenya. The charges were made public on January 15, 2024, by Kenya’s Department of Public Prosecutions following the horrifying discovery of mass graves in the Shakahola forest, located around two hours west of Malindi.
Mackenzie, a self-styled pastor and former taxi driver, was taken into custody in April of the previous year after the shocking discovery. The prosecutors claim that Mackenzie and his followers relocated to the Shakahola forest, preparing for the world’s end. As per witness accounts and findings from the investigation, Mackenzie allegedly directed his followers to fast until their deaths to meet Jesus.
This alleged instruction led to numerous deaths, including children, who showed signs of starvation and physical abuse. Forensic examination of the 429 bodies excavated from the Shakahola graves indicated that most victims died from starvation, while others, including children, seemed to have been strangled, suffocated, or beaten.
The Kenyan prosecutors assert that there is ample evidence to press charges against Mackenzie and the other suspects for crimes such as murder, assault, and aiding in the execution of a terrorist act. Some of the accused also face charges related to child torture. Mackenzie, however, denies accountability for the deaths, maintaining that he had closed his church in 2019 and hence, could not be held responsible. He is currently serving a sentence for running a film studio and distributing films without a valid license.
A Kenyan court has ordered Mackenzie and 30 of his associates to undergo mental health evaluations before facing charges for the murder of 191 children. These charges are linked to the discovery of the children’s bodies. Of the 95 suspects charged, 64 were initially considered victims and relocated to a rescue center. However, subsequent investigations revealed their complicity, particularly as many had lost their own children in the forest and provided false identities to the authorities. Mackenzie’s wife is also among those facing serious charges.
In a striking court scene, several of the accused were brought into the Mombasa courtroom in such a weakened state due to an alleged hunger strike that they could not stand or open their eyes to face 238 counts of manslaughter. The chief magistrate, Alex Ithuku, presided over the proceedings that lasted four and a half hours, during which charges were read out against Mackenzie, his wife Rhoda Maweu, and others implicated in the case that has drawn widespread condemnation and concern.
The proceedings took a pivotal turn when some of Mackenzie’s followers, too weak to walk or see, had to be carried into court, prompting the magistrate to order their immediate hospitalization. This action highlights the severe physical toll of the hunger strike that the suspects reportedly embarked on in custody, protesting their arrest and extended detention without bail.
Paul Mackenzie, who established the Good News International Church, stands accused of urging his followers to fast unto death to meet Jesus before the alleged end of the world. Coupled with charges related to the murder of 191 children found in numerous shallow graves across the church’s property, this case has become one of the most shocking and tragic in Kenya’s recent history.
The court’s decision to provide medical care to the suspects underscores ongoing human rights concerns within the Kenyan justice system. The suspects had been detained for over 10 months without bail, leading to criticism regarding the violation of constitutional rights and the ethical treatment of detainees. The government’s response to declare the Good News International Church as an “organized criminal group” points to a broader issue of religious organizations operating without oversight, sometimes resulting in fatal consequences. This case has sparked calls for stricter regulation of fringe denominations and a review of the protections offered to society’s vulnerable members.
As the legal proceedings unfold and the suspects receive the necessary medical care, the nation watches closely. The case against Paul Mackenzie and his followers, while deeply unsettling, serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by extreme religious beliefs and the importance of vigilance, justice, and compassion in addressing such issues. The events in Mombasa signify not just a legal battle but a societal confrontation with the boundaries of faith, the responsibilities of leadership, and the mandates of human rights.
A report by the Kenyan Senate indicated that the criminal justice system failed to prevent the heinous act by Pastor Mackenzie, despite his previous acquittal of radicalization charges in 2017 and accusations. Known to authorities as the “Shakahola forest massacre,” this case highlights the challenges Kenya faces in regulating unscrupulous religious movements and churches in a nation of over 53 million people, with more than 4,000 registered churches.
