On Monday, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, leader of a Kenyan starvation sect, went on trial for manslaughter over the deaths of over 400 followers in a severe cult tragedy. This case is one of the world’s worst cult-related incidents.
Mackenzie, along with 94 suspects, entered a Mombasa magistrate’s court. In January, they pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges linked to the “Shakahola Forest Massacre,” a series of cases involving mass deaths.
Prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina highlighted that this case is unprecedented in Kenya. The accused are to be tried under a law addressing suicide pacts, making this a unique manslaughter case.
Prosecutors have lined up 420 witnesses, and the trial is expected to span four days. Yamina stated that extensive preparations have been made due to the case’s severity.
Mackenzie is accused of urging followers to starve to “meet Jesus,” sparking global horror. He faces charges of terrorism, murder, and child cruelty related to the Shakahola massacre, with about 440 bodies found in mass graves.
