In a shocking and horrifying discovery, a cult leader in Kenya has been charged with murder after the bodies of over 400 individuals were found buried in shallow graves in a remote forest in the eastern part of the country. The accused, Paul Mackenzie, along with 29 others, pleaded not guilty to the charges in a court in the coastal town of Malindi. This comes after Mackenzie had already been charged with acts of terror, child cruelty, and torture, all of which he denied.
The victims’ families and survivors have revealed that Mackenzie encouraged his followers to fast in order to “go see Jesus.” It is alleged by the police and prosecutors that some victims may have been strangled, suffocated, or beaten to death using blunt objects. The accused have been charged with the murder of 191 people.
One survivor, who wished to remain anonymous and goes by the name Neema, expressed her fear of Mackenzie, stating that she never wants to meet him again. Neema was a follower of the Good News International Church in Malindi until it was shut down in 2019. When she learned that Mackenzie had relocated to Shakahola, a forest approximately 70km west of Malindi, she followed him there in 2022.
Shakahola is now under 24-hour police guard and has been declared a crime scene, with access strictly forbidden. Initially, the followers would travel to the forest and return home, but from late 2022, they were prohibited from leaving. Neema shared her harrowing experience of being held against her will in the forest, where women were repeatedly raped by the guards. Food and water were scarce, with followers surviving on half a cup of tea and a slice of bread in the morning. Eventually, even these meager rations were stopped, forcing them to scavenge for wild berries and drink water from the ground.
Neema and two of her friends managed to escape by waiting for the guards’ meal break, making a hole in the rear wall of their hut, and running to the main road where they were rescued by a motorist. Unfortunately, many others were not as fortunate, including numerous children. The survivors revealed that the first group identified for fasting until they “went to sleep” were the children, followed by women.
The village elder of Shakahola, Changawa Mangi, recalled how Mackenzie initially presented himself as someone interested in farming when he arrived in the village. Over time, it became apparent that he ran a church, which did not concern the residents initially. However, the presence of Mackenzie’s followers significantly impacted local businesses. Eventually, the followers stopped visiting the village shops, and warning signs started to emerge.
Mangi recounted an incident where three emaciated teenagers sought help from him, and he fed them. The community leader alerted the authorities, but the response was slow. Local young men attempted to storm the area on their motorbikes but were met with hostility and had their bikes set on fire. It became evident that access to the forest could only be gained under police escort.
Francis Wanje, a high school teacher from Mombasa, went to investigate when he heard that his daughter and her family might have moved to the forest. He was shocked by what he discovered and managed to rescue his nine-year-old grandson. However, his daughter and her husband remain missing. Stephen Mwiti, another distraught father, learned from survivors that his children had been starved to death and buried in a mass grave.
The cult preached against modern medicine and discouraged vaccinations for children. Mackenzie and his alleged associates have been in police custody since April of last year when he surrendered following the discovery of bodies in the forest. While Mackenzie’s sermons do not directly order fasting, there are references to followers sacrificing their lives.
The identification process for the bodies found in the morgue has been slow, with only 39 matched with families through DNA testing. Other relatives are still waiting for closure and justice. However, as Mr. Mwiti expressed, no amount of justice can bring back his family.
This horrifying case sheds light on the dangers of cults and the manipulation of vulnerable individuals. It serves as a reminder to remain vigilant and aware of the signs of exploitation and abuse. The survivors and victims’ families deserve justice and support as they navigate the painful aftermath of this tragedy.
