In one of the worst incidents of mass cult fatalities ever, the leader of a Kenyan cult who reportedly persuaded over 400 followers to starve themselves to death entered a not guilty plea to manslaughter.
Paul Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed pastor, and 94 other suspects showed up in court in Mombasa, a coastal city, on Monday.
After 429 bodies—including some of the children—were exhumed from mass graves in Shakahola, a rural woodland located approximately two hours to the west of Malindi, Mackenzie was taken into custody in April of last year. The majority of the corpses had evidence of malnutrition and violence.
Prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina told AFP, “There has never been a manslaughter case like this in Kenya.”
Over four days, more than 400 witnesses are expected to testify, according to the prosecution. Yamina stated that the suspects will face legal prosecution under laws concerning suicide agreements because the situation was unprecedented in Kenya.
Kenyans were outraged and shocked that someone could voluntarily starve himself to death when the news surfaced last year. The incident was named “Shakahola Forest Massacre”.
Mackenzie is said to have persuaded his disciples that if they abstained from eating, they would reach heaven faster.
In addition, Mackenzie is being tried twice more: once for terrorism, which began in July, and once on counts of abusing children, which include torturing, assaulting, and violating their right to education, all of which he disputes.
Children were meant to starve themselves first, according to survivors, as per a grim directive drafted by Mackenzie. Next came single people, men, women, and, last but not least, church leaders. He exhorted his followers to relocate to the Shakahola Forest in order to “meet Jesus” at the end of the world. Mackenzie founded his church, Good News International in 2003 but claimed to have closed it in 2009.
