A Kenyan court sentenced cult leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison over the Shakahola starvation deaths
The sentence follows Mackenzie's October conviction for 191 murders tied to his Good News International Church. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, and his lawyer says he will appeal.
Key takeaways
- Mackenzie received 200 years on November 6, 2026: 100 for the homicide counts and 100 for the starvation counts.
- He and 28 followers were convicted on October 19 of murdering 190 children and one adult.
- Kenya's human rights commission counted 429 deaths linked to the cult in 2024.
Kenya's High Court in Mombasa on Friday, November 6, sentenced Paul Mackenzie, the self-styled pastor who led the Good News International Church, to 200 years in prison, Africanews reported. The term combines 100 years on the homicide charges and 100 on the starvation charges. His lawyer said he plans to appeal.
What was he convicted of?
The court found Mackenzie and 28 co-accused guilty on October 19 of murdering 190 children and one adult, according to CBS News, citing the AP. Justice Diana Kavedza said 183 of the victims starved and eight were killed directly. Followers were reportedly taught that starving themselves was the route to salvation.
The co-accused, who included guards who enforced the fasting and gravediggers who hid the bodies, received long prison terms. CBS reported that assistant pastor Smart Mwakalama was given 160 years. Prosecutors had asked for death for Mackenzie and life for the others. Kenya has not carried out an execution since 1987, Africanews noted.
How large was the toll?
Investigators dug more than 400 bodies out of shallow graves in the Shakahola area of Kilifi County in 2023, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights put the toll at 429 in a 2024 report. Only about 60 victims have been identified and reburied, according to CBS. Mackenzie had been arrested twice before, in 2017 and 2019, and released each time before his April 2023 arrest.
What happens next
Mackenzie still faces separate trials. Africanews said he denies manslaughter and terrorism charges, and CBS listed child abuse and torture charges pending in two other courts. His lawyer's planned appeal of the 200-year sentence is the next step in this case.
Sources
- Africanews, “Kenyan doomsday cult leader sentenced to 200 years in prison for murder of 191,” November 6, 2026
- CBS News (Associated Press), report on the sentencing of Paul Mackenzie in Mombasa, November 6, 2026
Written by Action Global News from the sources above; quotations are attributed to the outlet that published them. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.
Frequently asked
What sentence did Paul Mackenzie receive?
200 years in prison, handed down by Kenya's High Court in Mombasa on November 6, 2026.
How many people died in the Shakahola cult case?
Mackenzie was convicted of 191 murders; Kenya's human rights commission counted 429 deaths in 2024.