Unrest & politics · Politics · Impact 5 Critical

Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie guilty of murder of 190 children and one adult

19 Oct 2026, 16:08 UTC · ≈ Shakahola forest, Kenya · confirmed by 3 outlets

A Kenyan court found Paul Mackenzie and about 30 others guilty of murder over deaths in the Shakahola forest starvation cult. Mackenzie was arrested in 2023 after a tipoff.

Location: ≈ Shakahola forest, Kenya · Kenya live map
Coordinates: ≈ 3.10°S 39.60°E
Reported: 19 Oct 2026, 16:08 UTC
Category: Unrest & politics · Politics
Impact: 5 of 5 · Critical
Situation: Kenya cult deaths

See it on the live globe → The Guardian ↗Al Jazeera ↗France 24 ↗France 24 ↗

Kenya cult deaths right now

● New

Kenyan court finds cult leader Paul Mackenzie guilty of murder over Shakahola deaths

On Monday, a Kenyan court found Paul Mackenzie and about 30 others guilty of murder over deaths in the Shakahola forest starvation cult. The verdict covers the murder of 190 children and one adult. Mackenzie was arrested in 2023 after a tipoff.

Mackenzie and about 30 others were convicted of murder on Monday.
The case concerns the murder of 190 children and one adult.
Mackenzie was arrested in 2023 after a tipoff.

Updated 20 Oct 2026, 12:31 UTC · Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.