New: Kenya Judge Sentences Mackenzie to 200 Years for Shakahola Deaths, Declines Death Penalty
The High Court in Mombasa handed 28 co-convicts terms from 10 to 160 years for the starvation deaths of 191 people, 190 of them children.
See where this is ›MOMBASA, Kenya —
Justice Diana Kavedza of the High Court in Mombasa, Kenya, on Friday, Nov. 6, sentenced preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for the deaths of 191 people, 190 of them children, in Shakahola Forest, Citizen Digital, The Star and Kenyans.co.ke reported. Prosecutors had asked for the death penalty; the judge declined.
See where this is ›The Star reported that Mackenzie received 100 years for the murders by starvation and another 100 years for eight murders by direct homicide of child victims. The terms within each set run concurrently, and the two sets run one after the other, for a total of 200 years.
Citizen Digital reported that 15 co-convicts received 160 years each, 10 received 140 years each and one received 100 years. Enos Amanya Ngala, who pleaded guilty to all 191 counts under a plea agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Lucas Owino received 10 years each.
Explaining why she did not impose death, Kavedza said, “The death sentence will foreclose the possibility of disengagement and rehabilitation,” according to Kenyans.co.ke. The Star quoted her saying of the children who died, “The adult support system malfunctioned.” Kenyans.co.ke reported that eligible convicts who have served one-third or half of their terms may apply for a sentence review, subject to certification by Kenya's National Counter Terrorism Centre.
Mackenzie led the Good News International Church, which Citizen Digital said he registered as a religious society in 2020 with headquarters in Furunzi, Malindi. The court found on Oct. 19 that he directed followers to fast to death between January 2021 and September 2023. The Star reported that the defense plans to appeal the convictions.
Watchman News reported Nov. 3 that the state had sought death for Mackenzie and life terms for 27 of the others.
What we don't know yet: Kenyan outlets describe Mackenzie's counts differently. The Star lists 193 starvation counts, while Kenyans.co.ke lists 191, and Citizen Digital says the judgment found 183 murders by starvation, eight by direct homicide and the death of one adult. Kenyans.co.ke said most convicts received 160 years, which differs from Citizen Digital's breakdown. No appeal had been filed in the reports we read.
