Paul Mackenzie, the head of a Kenyan cult, is on trial for manslaughter

After almost 400 of his members perished in one of the bloodiest cult catastrophes in history, Paul Mackenzie, a Kenyan cult leader, is on trial for manslaughter.

The Good News International Church’s leader, Mackenzie, is accused of murder, torturing children, and “terrorism.” The allegations originate from the finding of hundreds of corpses in April of last year, which were thought to be followers who had starved to death at his command.

When faced with many manslaughter counts in January, Mackenzie had already entered a not guilty plea. But under Kenyan statutes that deal with suicide pacts, prosecutors intend to prosecute these cases. Mackenzie made her court appearance in Mombasa on Monday, along with over ninety other accused.

Reporting from Mombasa, Stefanie Dekker of Al Jazeera observed that although Mackenzie seemed weak in court, he continued to evince authority among his supporters. In Kenya, a nation where faith is deeply ingrained in daily life, this trial has sparked larger worries about the lack of accountability around self-described pastors and religious figures.

This is a first for Kenya, according to prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina, who called the case “very unique.” Because this is such a delicate matter, several witnesses are anticipated to testify in private.

This month, charges of “terrorism” in connection with the Shakahola mass killings were brought against forty women and fifty men. Prosecutors claim that the offenses committed by these defendants between 2020 and 2023 include cruelty, child abuse, and murder.

After months of DNA identification work, the victims’ corpses were released to their bereaved families in March. Of these, 34 have been returned thus far.

The startling event has forced Kenya’s government to think about tightening laws pertaining to fringe religious organizations. The killings may have been avoided with improved monitoring, according to suggestions made by the Kenyan Senate and a state-funded human rights group.

President William Ruto responded by forming a commission to look into the incident and reevaluate the laws governing religious institutions. The panel, which last month revealed its conclusions, suggested that religious organizations adopt a hybrid strategy of self-governance and governmental oversight.