A Kenyan court has convicted religious leader Paul Mackenzie and 29 followers over the deaths of 191 children in the Shakahola forest case, one of the country’s most devastating criminal investigations.
Judge Diana Kavedza-Mochache ruled that prosecutors had proved their case against Mackenzie and his associates. The court heard that children were allegedly coerced into starving themselves in the belief that they would meet Jesus. Evidence also described children being tied to trees, beaten and strangled.
The wider Shakahola investigation has linked the deaths of more than 400 people to the religious group’s activities. Many victims remain missing or unidentified, and investigations into the deaths are continuing.
Steven Mwiti, who lost six children, described the devastating impact of the tragedy on his family. Defence lawyer Lawrence Obonyo criticised the court’s reasoning and the introduction of crimes against humanity charges, signalling that the defence intends to appeal.
The convictions mark a significant development in a case that has raised serious questions about religious extremism, the protection of vulnerable people and accountability in Kenya.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports
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