Kenya: Pastor Paul Mackenzie sentenced to 200 years in prison after being found guilty of 191 murders

Kenyan justice sentenced Pastor Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison on Friday, November 6, 2026, for his involvement in the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children. The verdict was handed down by the Mombasa High Court in one of the country's most notorious criminal cases.

As head of the Good News International Church, Paul Mackenzie imposed extreme fasting practices on his followers. He allegedly led them to believe that food deprivation would allow them to meet Jesus and enter heaven, resulting in numerous deaths in the Shakahola forest in 2023.

The investigation revealed the scale of the tragedy, with the discovery of hundreds of bodies in the forest located in southeastern Kenya. The victims identified in this legal case include 190 children and one adult.

Twenty-eight other people prosecuted in the same case were also found guilty and sentenced. Their sentences range from 10 to 160 years in prison.

This conviction marks the culmination of one of the most tragic episodes linked to sectarian abuses and the exploitation of faith in Kenya.

Djamila Kambou