Kenya cult deaths: Court set to rule in preacher's murder trial
2 Video Views·Oct 19, 2026
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A Kenya court is expected to deliver its verdict on Monday in the trial
of self-proclaimed preacher Paul McKenzie and his associate accused
of murdering 191 people, most of them children,
in one of the country's worst mass casualty cases.
The case stemmed from the discovery in 2023
of hundreds of bodies buried in shallow graves
in Shakahola Forest near the coastal town of Malindi.
Prosecutors allege McKenzie encouraged his followers to stab themselves
to death to meet Jesus with children allegedly targeted first.
More than 400 bodies have since been recovered
from the surrounding area, although some victims remain unidentified.
Mackenzie and his associates have pledged not guilty.
His lawyers argued that the prosecution's case relies heavily
on circumstantial evidence
and inconclusive forensic findings.
The trial heard testimony from more than 120 witnesses
from about events between 2021 and
2023.
The tragedy sparked public outrage
and renewed calls for tighter oversight of religious organizations
in Kenya.