On Wednesday, a Kenyan judge declared that Paul Mackenzie, the leader of a cult known as the Good News International Church, and 30 associates undergo mental health assessments before facing charges related to the murder of 191 children.
The bodies were discovered in the Shakahola forest last April, marking one of the most significant cult-related tragedies globally, with over 400 bodies found across vast forested acres.
Mackenzie allegedly directed followers in southeastern Kenya to deliberately starve themselves and their children to attain salvation before an impending apocalypse.
Prosecutors plan to charge a total of 95 individuals with offenses including murder, manslaughter, terrorism, and torture.
Since being taken into custody during the discovery of bodies, Mackenzie, a former taxi driver, has been cooperative with the investigation, according to his lawyer.
In a Malindi courtroom hearing, a judge granted the prosecution’s request for mental health assessments before formal charges are brought against the 31 defendants in two weeks.
During the proceedings, Mackenzie, clad in a white-and-blue-striped polo shirt, remained largely expressionless alongside his fellow defendants.
Delays in filing charges were attributed to the challenging task of locating, exhuming, and autopsying human remains, with some of Mackenzie’s followers rescued and found emaciated in the forest.
Insiders revealed that Mackenzie orchestrated mass starvation in three phases: starting with children, followed by women and young men, and concluding with the remaining men.
Cult members were allegedly prohibited from sending their children to school and seeking medical care, as Mackenzie deemed such institutions as Satanic. In a separate legal matter, Mackenzie was convicted in December for producing and distributing films without a licence, resulting in a 12-month jail sentence.
