Kenya convicts preacher, 28 others over deaths of 191 people

A Kenyan court has convicted self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie and 28 others of murdering 190 children and one adult in a starvation cult linked to the deaths of hundreds of people.

Judge Diana Kavedza Mochache delivered the verdict on Monday in an open-air courtroom in Mombasa, three years after the discovery of mass graves in Shakahola Forest, near the coastal town of Malindi.

Mackenzie was accused of encouraging his followers to starve themselves and their children to death in the belief that they would meet Jesus.

“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case against all the 29 accused persons for the murder of 190 children and one adult,” the judge said.

Mackenzie remained impassive as the verdict was delivered.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions welcomed the ruling, describing it as momentous.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, told reporters that securing convictions in such a case was a significant achievement.

“Getting a conviction of such counts…is not something that comes that easily,” he said.