Controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie has been sentenced to 200 years in prison over the murder of 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi County.
Mombasa High Court Judge Diana Kavedza Mochache delivered the sentence on Friday, November 6, 2026, following Mackenzie’s conviction on 191 counts of murder.
The sentence marks a major development in the Shakahola case, which exposed the deadly activities of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church and its extreme religious teachings.
During the trial, the court heard how Mackenzie allegedly encouraged his followers to starve themselves to death in the belief that they would meet Jesus.
Investigations established that the deadly fasting practices began with children before extending to women, men and other followers of the church.
In its judgment delivered on October 19, the court found Mackenzie guilty alongside 28 co-accused after considering evidence presented by the prosecution.
The prosecution had urged the court to impose the harshest possible punishment, arguing that Mackenzie played a central role in the deaths and the activities that led to the tragedy.
The State also sought life imprisonment for several of the co-accused, citing their alleged involvement in sustaining the activities that resulted in the deaths.
Mackenzie had asked the court for leniency during the sentencing proceedings, with his defence urging consideration of his personal circumstances and the period he had spent in custody.
The Shakahola tragedy came to light in April 2023 when police discovered bodies buried in shallow graves in Shakahola Forest, near Malindi.
Subsequent investigations uncovered hundreds of graves, with more than 400 bodies eventually recovered from the forest.
The victims were followers of Mackenzie’s church who had reportedly been persuaded to abandon food and other basic needs through extreme religious teachings.
The case attracted national and international attention, raising concerns over religious extremism, child protection and the regulation of religious organisations in Kenya.
The 200-year sentence is among the major developments in the criminal proceedings arising from the Shakahola massacre.