The Mombasa High Court has found controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 30 co-accused guilty of murder in a case involving the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children and one adult, linked to the Shakahola Forest tragedy in Kilifi County.

The verdict, delivered on Monday, October 19, 2026, marks a major development in one of Kenya’s most significant criminal cases, which exposed the dangers of religious extremism and the alleged manipulation of vulnerable followers.

The court found the accused criminally responsible for the deaths, which prosecutors linked to teachings associated with Mackenzie’s Good News International Church. The followers were allegedly instructed to undertake prolonged fasting in the belief that it would enable them to reach heaven.

SENTENCING SET FOR NOVEMBER 6

Mackenzie and his co-accused are expected to return to court on November 6, 2026, for sentencing following the guilty verdict.

The case centred on 191 murder counts arising from deaths associated with the Shakahola settlement, where investigators uncovered mass graves during an operation that began in 2023.

The prosecution presented evidence linking the accused to a scheme in which religious teachings were allegedly used to influence followers to engage in life-threatening fasting practices.

HOW THE SHAKAHOLA TRAGEDY UNFOLDED

The discovery of mass graves in Shakahola Forest in April 2023 triggered a major investigation involving police officers, forensic experts and other government agencies.

Authorities subsequently recovered hundreds of bodies from the forest, with the deaths raising serious concerns about the safety of people living under the influence of extremist religious teachings.

Investigations focused on the activities of Mackenzie and his church, with prosecutors alleging that followers were encouraged to abandon ordinary life and observe extreme fasting practices in preparation for what they believed was salvation.

The deaths of so many children also brought renewed attention to the protection of minors from harmful indoctrination and abuse within religious settings.

RENEWED QUESTIONS OVER RELIGIOUS REGULATION

The Shakahola tragedy sparked national debate over the regulation of religious institutions and the responsibility of authorities to intervene when religious practices pose a threat to human life.

It also raised questions about how warning signs of abuse within religious organisations can be identified and addressed before they result in loss of life.

The latest verdict represents a key step in the pursuit of accountability for the 191 deaths covered by the murder trial.

However, the Shakahola tragedy involved more than 400 recovered bodies, making the wider investigations and other legal proceedings connected to the deaths an important part of the continuing search for justice for victims and their families.