Who Is Paul Mackenzie, Kenyan Pastor Whose Cult Starved 400 Followers To Death?

Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 10:18 IST

Kenyan pastor Paul Mackenzie accused of killing over 400 followers via starvation and suffocation during rituals; bodies exhumed near Malindi cult site

Relatives of victims claimed that Paul Mackenzie ordered his followers to starve themselves and their children to meet Jesus Christ in heaven. (News18)

A Kenyan pastor stands accused of causing the deaths of over 400 followers in one of the world’s most horrific religious tragedies. A Kenyan court has ordered the exhumation of bodies suspected to belong to those starved and suffocated during a religious ritual nearly two years ago.

These bodies are believed to be buried in unmarked graves near the cult’s former headquarters on the outskirts of Malindi, a coastal town in Southeastern Kenya.

Who Is Paul Mackenzie?

Paul Mackenzie is a Kenyan pastor and founder of the evangelical church Good News International. A former taxi driver, he led the sect for nearly 20 years.

He stands accused of orchestrating one of the most devastating modern cult tragedies; allegedly instructing his followers to starve or suffocate themselves, resulting in the deaths of over 400 people during religious rituals.

Arrest And Discovery

Paul Mackenzie was arrested in April 2023 following a police tip-off. Authorities searched his church’s 800-acre property in the Shakahola forest, initially recovering around 80 bodies from shallow graves. Most showed signs of starvation, while others indicated suffocation.

Survivors from the church were found in a weakened state.

Background Of Paul Mackenzie And His Church

Paul Mackenzie led his church, Good News International, for two decades. Unlike structured churches such as Roman Catholic or Anglican, many evangelical churches in East Africa operate independently, without oversight.

Good News International claimed to prepare believers for the second coming of Jesus Christ through education and evangelism. Paul Mackenzie’s TV programme, End Time Messages, broadcasted teachings, sermons, and prophecies about the end times.

How Paul Mackenzie Controlled His Followers?

Kenyan Pastor Paul Mackenzie gained fame through his TV show and YouTube videos, warning followers that the world would soon end and Satan would reign for 1,000 years. Relatives of victims claimed he ordered his followers to starve themselves and their children to meet Jesus Christ in heaven. He later altered this, allegedly planning for children to die first, followed by women, then himself and the men.

Paul Mackenzie denied instructing anyone to avoid food.

However, according to a report by Reuters, Paul Mackenzie isolated followers from families and society through extremist teachings. A March 2023 video showed him criticising education, accusing it of promoting homosexuality in schools.

In 2017 and 2019, authorities found children not attending school and ordered the closure of Paul Mackenzie’s church, prompting his relocation to Shakahola forest.

The Tragic Unfolding And Police Action

In March 2023, a local man alerted police that his brother and sister-in-law had starved their children to death under Paul Mackenzie’s instructions. The police discovered the bodies, leading to the pastor’s arrest. However, he was released on bail, which reportedly accelerated his plans.

Upon returning to the forest, he told followers the world would end on April 15 instead of August.

On April 13, police acted on another tip-off and returned to the forest, uncovering more bodies.

Government Response And Inquiry

Kenyan President William Ruto announced the formation of a judicial inquiry commission in 2023 to investigate how Paul Mackenzie’s activities were allowed to continue undetected for so long.

William Ruto faced criticism for his handling of the tragedy and hesitation to act promptly. His wife Rachel Ruto, herself an evangelical preacher, is believed to have influenced his response.

Location :

Kenya

First Published:

August 05, 2025, 10:18 IST

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