Kenyan sect leader accused of mass starvation denies charges in court

Leader of the Kenyan religious group, Paul Mackenzie, is suspected of encouraging over 400 of his followers to starve to death. The man denied the allegations in court, reports the BBC.

Sect leader Paul Mackenzie was arrested in April 2023. On Monday, 12 August, he and 94 others charged alongside him appeared in court in Mombasa. Prosecutors planned to call 400 witnesses over the next four days of the trial.

The arrest of the sect leader occurred after the discovery of 429 bodies of adults and children showing signs of starvation and persecution. All bodies were buried in a mass grave in the forest about 200 kilometres away from the city of Malindi. According to information provided by the BBC, Mackenzie allegedly convinced his followers that they would reach heaven faster by depriving themselves of food.

Paul Mackenzie will also face court in connection with two other investigations. The first is related to charges of terrorism, and the second pertains to allegations of violence and cruelty against children, torturing them and depriving them of the right to education.

In 2003, Mackenzie founded the International Church of Good Hope. After 16 years, he announced its closure. He persuaded some of his followers to move to the forest and wait for the world's end and Jesus' return.

The sect leader owns 800 hectares of forest land without mobile phone reception. Mackenzie and his followers were to flee and live there. The area was divided into zones with biblical names such as Judea and Nazareth. Mackenzie preached that education was contrary to the Bible and the work of Satan. He allegedly required regular donations from his followers to support the sect's activities.

The first witnesses questioned in the starvation case testified that Mackenzie created exceptionally cruel rules in his sect. According to the hierarchy imposed by the leader, children were to be starved first. The next group was unmarried individuals—lastly, married couples and community leaders.

In Kenya, 85 per cent of the population declares membership in various Christian communities. Thus, there is a problem with unofficial churches and sects often involved in illegal activities. In a country of over 50 million citizens, more than 4,000 different churches and religious organisations are registered - informs PAP.