KENYAN cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 29 associates appeared before a court in the coastal town of Malindi on Tuesday, facing charges related to the murder of 191 children whose bodies were discovered buried in a forest. The defendants, including Mackenzie, all pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
The prosecution alleges that Mackenzie instructed his followers, members of the Good News International Church, to starve themselves and their children to death in anticipation of the world’s end, leading to one of the world’s worst cult-related tragedies in recent memory.
The followers of Mackenzie’s cult resided in secluded settlements within an 800-acre area of the Shakahola forest. Authorities eventually unearthed over 400 bodies, shedding light on the extent of the horrific incident.
Mackenzie, who was apprehended last April, already faces charges related to terrorism, manslaughter, and torture. In December, he was convicted of producing and distributing films without proper authorization, receiving a 12-month prison sentence.
According to some former cult members, Mackenzie forbade them from sending their children to school or seeking medical assistance from hospitals, branding such institutions as Satanic.
Mackenzie’s defence attorney has stated that he is cooperating with the ongoing investigation into the deaths. The court has scheduled a bond hearing for the 30 defendants on March 7, as the trial continues to unfold in Malindi.