Kenyan pastor charged with terrorism

Kenyan pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, self-proclaimed leader of the Good News International Ministries, faced terrorism charges in court over the deaths of over 400 of his followers.

Mackenzie and 94 other suspects pleaded “not guilty” to charges of radicalization, with the court also levying accusations of “organized criminal activity” against the cult leader.

Kenya, predominantly a Christian nation, has grappled with the challenge of regulating unscrupulous churches and cults involved in criminal activities.

Mackenzie is alleged to have incited his followers to starve themselves to death, claiming it would enable them to “meet Jesus.”

The case unfolded last April when bodies were discovered in the Shakahola forest near the Indian Ocean, leading to Mackenzie’s arrest.

Autopsies revealed that the majority of the 429 victims died of hunger, while some, including children, showed signs of strangulation, beating, or suffocation.

Court documents described Mackenzie’s ministry as “an organized criminal group engaged in activities that endangered lives, leading to the death of 429 members and followers.”

Mackenzie’s pre-trial detention was extended multiple times as the prosecution sought additional time to investigate. However, a recent court warning mandated that charges be filed within 14 days, or Mackenzie would be released.

Prosecutors plan to conduct mental health assessments for 31 suspects, including Mackenzie, to determine their fitness for trial on charges of murder, manslaughter, and terrorism.

The “Shakahola forest massacre” has prompted calls for increased control over fringe denominations in Kenya, with concerns raised about Mackenzie’s ability to evade law enforcement despite a history of extremism and previous legal cases.

A Senate commission of inquiry reported Mackenzie’s prior charges in 2017 for extreme preaching, citing failures in the criminal justice system to deter his activities.

Despite being acquitted of radicalization charges in 2017, Mackenzie faced accusations in 2019 related to the deaths of two children believed to have been starved and buried in the Shakahola forest. He was released on bail pending the ongoing trial.

The grim case has drawn attention to the need for tighter regulation of fringe denominations in Kenya, where over 4,000 churches are registered in a country of 53 million people.