Christian World | A Kenyan court has sentenced preacher Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison over the Shakahola Forest deaths of 191 people, 190 of them children

ACW | November 7, 2026 — A Kenyan court on Friday, Nov. 6, sentenced preacher Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison on 191 counts of murder over deaths in the Shakahola Forest, Kenya's The Star newspaper reported.

Justice Diana Kavedza of the High Court in Mombasa handed down the sentence, The Star said. The 191 victims, including 190 children, died in the forest in Kilifi County between January 2021 and September 2023, the paper reported.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had asked the court to impose the death penalty, according to The Star. Mackenzie was convicted last month, and his lawyer has signaled an appeal, Christian Daily International reported.

Francis Wanje, who lost eight relatives at Shakahola, said the sentence brought him some relief, Kenyan outlet Citizen Digital reported. Suleiman Ziro told the outlet he has still not seen the remains of his wife and six children and does not know whether they are alive.

Background: Kenyan authorities have exhumed 448 bodies from the Shakahola Forest, and a separate case over 52 more deaths is before the courts, Christian Daily International reported.

Why it matters: Of the 191 victims in the case, 190 were children, according to The Star. A proposed law to regulate churches and religious groups in Kenya remains stalled, Christian Daily International reported.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: The Star (Kenya) — Mackenzie sentenced to 200 years in prison over Shakahola killings; Citizen Digital — Shakahola families welcome 200-year sentence; Christian Daily International — Kenyan cult leader sentenced to 200 years

Photo: John Chesoli / The Star — Paul Mackenzie at the Mombasa Law Courts, Nov. 6, 2026