Self-proclaimed pastor and leader of the Good News International Church, Paul Nthenge Mckenzie, in Kenya, has been sentenced to 200 years in prison after being found guilty of charges related to the deaths of 190 children and one adult.
The High Court in Mombasa pronounced the judgement, which Kenyan broadcaster NTV Kenya made public on Friday, November 6, 2026.
According to witnesses who testified on behalf of the prosecution, pastor Nthenge and his accomplices relocated his followers to a remote location in the Shakahola forest and directed them to starve to death as the fastest way of walking through the gates of heaven where they were assured of meeting Jesus.
Followers who flaunted these directives or attempted to escape were beaten, molested and confined by his accomplices who made sure to enforce strict rules to every follower.
The charges of starvation to death and homicide were both given as 100 years each but will be served concurrently which brings the total number of years to 200.
Justice Diana Kavedze while pronouncing her judgement said pastor Mckenzie bore the “primary criminal culpability” as she highlighted the suffering of the children, saying, ” children observed as their siblings dropped dead after enduring hunger for days”
The Shakahola tragedy generated public interest in April 2023 after Kenyan police uncovered more than 400 bodies that were buried in shallow graves in a forest near the coastal town of Malindi.
Twenty eight other accomplices found guilty were also handed sentences ranging from 10 to 160 years.
In his defense, Pastor Mckenzie through his lawyers argued, their client didn’t force any of the victims to starve but the court struck it out due to the overwhelming evidence it was given by the prosecution.
