Kenya starvation cult leader to face murder, terrorism charges

Paul Mackenzie, controversial preacher and leader of a starvation cult in Kenya, and his accomplices are facing prosecution for murder.

The founder of the Good News International Church had been accused of ordering his followers to starve to death so they could meet Jesus before the rest of the world.

Weeks after reports of missing persons linked to the church were found, police said they discovered casualties from the starvation cult buried on a piece of land in Shakahola forest belonging to Nthenge.

Over 400 persons were found in shallow graves, nearly half of them children which autopsies revealed died of dehydration and asphyxiation.

Mackenzie and his associates have been in police custody since May last year after he was arrested.

Delivering an update on the case via a statement on Tuesday, Renson Ingonga, director of public prosecutions (DPP) in Kenya, said his office had reviewed the case file submitted by the directorate of criminal investigations (DCI) and found sufficient evidence to lay charges against 95 suspects arrested in connection with the tragedy

The DPP said he had approved 10 charges, including murder and terrorism, against suspects linked to the Shakahola massacre that claimed more than 430 lives.

“Upon thorough analysis of the evidence, the DPP is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute ninety-five (95) suspects with the charges,”Ingonga said.

The ODPP undertakes to expeditiously prosecute the matters in view of the great public interest involved.”

Under Kenya’s penal code, the suspects will also be charged with manslaughter and assault causing grievous bodily harm.

The DPP did not state when the suspects would appear in court but said his office would be sure “to prosecute the matters expeditiously”.