Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie sentenced to 200 years in prison over child murders

Summary

A Kenyan court has sentenced cult leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for the murders of 190 children and one adult, according to DW and Sky News, while ABC News reports the sentence covered 191 murders. The killings took place in the Shakahola Forest on the Kenyan coast between January 2021 and September 2023, and DW reports that Mackenzie told followers to starve themselves to death as part of his apocalyptic religious cult. ABC News links the cult to the deaths of hundreds of people. Africanews reports that Mackenzie was convicted last month alongside 28 co-accused, that he faces a death sentence over the child murders, and that his lawyer said he would appeal. The reports differ on the penalty, and ABC's victim count differs from the other two.

Timeline

1. Africanews

   6 Nov 2026, 09:19 UTCSource ↗

   Africanews reports that the Kenyan cult leader was convicted last month of murdering 190 children and one adult between January 2021 and September 2023, alongside 28 co-accused, that he faces a death sentence, and that his lawyer said he would appeal.

2. DW

   6 Nov 2026, 12:03 UTCSource ↗

   DW reports that a Kenyan court sentenced Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for the murders of 190 children and an adult, and that he told followers to starve themselves to death as part of his apocalyptic religious cult.

3. ABC News

   6 Nov 2026, 12:11 UTCSource ↗

   ABC News reports that the leader of a Kenyan doomsday cult linked to the deaths of hundreds of people has been sentenced to 200 years in prison for the murders of 191 people.

4. Sky News

   6 Nov 2026, 12:50 UTCSource ↗

   Sky News reports that cult leader Paul Mackenzie has been sentenced to a total of 200 years in prison for the murder of 190 children and one adult in the Shakahola Forest on the Kenyan coast, between January 2021 and September 2023.