SHAKAHOLA HORROR: HOW PAUL MACKENZIE ROSE FROM STREET HAWKER TO NOTORIOUS PREACHER

Paul Nthenge Mackenzie’s journey from a street hawker in Mombasa to a preacher whose teachings became central to one of Kenya’s deadliest religious tragedies has raised serious questions about religious extremism, the protection of vulnerable followers and the oversight of religious institutions.

Mackenzie came into national and international focus after the discovery of mass graves in Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County, in 2023. Investigators linked the deaths to a religious group whose followers were allegedly encouraged to fast to death in the belief that they would meet Jesus Christ.

His story traces the transformation of a man who once earned a living selling goods on the streets into a religious figure whose influence would eventually attract intense scrutiny from authorities.

Mackenzie founded Good News International Church in Malindi in 2003. He built a following through sermons on biblical prophecy, salvation and the end of the world. He also used television and online platforms to spread his messages, extending his influence beyond in-person church services.

Over time, his teachings reportedly became increasingly extreme. Former followers and investigators described messages discouraging formal education and medical treatment, which Mackenzie allegedly portrayed as contrary to religious beliefs.

Authorities had raised concerns about his activities years before the Shakahola tragedy. In 2017, police found children at his compound who were reportedly not attending school. He faced legal proceedings, but his religious activities continued. His church premises were closed in 2019, after which he moved his operations and followers to Shakahola Forest.

The case shocked Kenya in April 2023 when police began uncovering bodies in shallow graves in Shakahola Forest, in Kilifi County. Investigations revealed a community of followers who had been living in remote settlements and practising extreme fasting.

Prosecutors alleged that Mackenzie encouraged followers to starve themselves and their children to death in preparation for meeting Jesus Christ. Evidence presented in court also described the use of force and intimidation against people who resisted the fasting instructions or attempted to escape.

More than 400 bodies were eventually recovered from the area, making the tragedy one of the most devastating cases linked to religious extremism in Kenya. The deaths prompted national debate about the regulation of religious organisations, failures by authorities to act on earlier warnings and the protection of vulnerable people.

On October 19, 2026, the High Court in Mombasa convicted Mackenzie and other defendants in connection with 191 murders, involving 190 children and one adult. Justice Diana Kavedza found that the accused had acted together to implement and sustain the fasting regime that led to the deaths.

Mackenzie had denied the charges. The court's decision marked a major development in a case that has drawn attention to the consequences of unchecked religious influence and the need for effective intervention when warning signs emerge.

He also faces separate proceedings relating to other alleged offences and deaths, which should be distinguished from the murder convictions.

Paul Mackenzie’s rise from a street trader to a preacher with a large following, and the tragedy that followed, remains a stark reminder of the potential dangers when religious authority is used to justify harmful practices. The case continues to raise questions about accountability, freedom of worship and the responsibility of institutions to protect people from exploitation.