The High Court in Mombasa has directed that self-proclaimed preacher Paul Mackenzie and several of his co-accused undergo a mental assessment as the court prepares to proceed with fresh charges linked to one of Kenya’s deadliest cult-related tragedies.
The directive comes as prosecutors intensify efforts to pursue additional charges against Mackenzie and his associates following the deaths of hundreds of followers connected to the Good News International Church. The case stems from the mass fatalities discovered in Shakahola Forest and, more recently, in Kwa Binzaro village in Kilifi County.
Fresh Charges Over Dozens of Deaths
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Mackenzie and seven others have been charged with organized criminal activity, two counts of radicalization, and two counts of facilitating the commission of a terrorist act in relation to the deaths of at least 52 people in the Kwa Binzaro area of Chakama, Kilifi County.
The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 4.
In a statement, the prosecution alleged that the suspects promoted an extreme belief system by preaching against government authority and facilitating acts that led to the deaths of their followers.
“They are alleged to have promoted an extreme belief system by preaching against the authority of the government, adopted an extreme belief system against authority, and facilitated the commission of a terrorist act,” the ODPP stated.
Background: The Shakahola Tragedy
Mackenzie and his co-accused are already facing multiple charges, including murder and terrorism-related offences, arising from the deaths of individuals whose bodies were exhumed from Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County.
Prosecutors contend that Mackenzie led a cult that instructed followers to starve themselves and their children to death in order to “meet Jesus” before the end of the world. Mackenzie has consistently denied the accusations.
By 2025, authorities confirmed that more than 400 bodies had been recovered from Shakahola Forest, making it one of the deadliest cult-related disasters in recent history. Post-mortem examinations revealed that most victims died of starvation, while others — including children — showed signs of strangulation, suffocation, or physical assault.
Mackenzie previously pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of manslaughter in earlier proceedings in Mombasa and has remained in custody since his arrest.
Expansion of Investigations
The case widened last year after additional bodies were discovered in Kwa Binzaro, approximately 30 kilometres from Shakahola along the Indian Ocean coast. Prosecutors allege that Mackenzie masterminded and oversaw activities at the new site and continued issuing directives even after his detention in 2023.
Authorities further claim that radical teachings were used to lure victims to the remote location.
Broader Implications
The magnitude of the tragedy has prompted national debate and calls for tighter regulation of religious institutions in Kenya, a predominantly Christian country. Separate reports by the Senate of Kenya and a state-funded human rights body indicated that earlier state intervention could potentially have prevented the mass deaths.
The High Court’s order for mental evaluation is a procedural step intended to determine the accused persons’ fitness to stand trial as the prosecution advances the expanded charges.
The case continues to draw national and international attention as Kenya confronts the legal, social, and regulatory ramifications of the Shakahola and Kwa Binzaro deaths.
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