Nairobi — Mombasa High Court is expected to sentence controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 28 co-accused persons on Friday over the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, in the Shakahola massacre.
The sentencing marks a major stage in the criminal proceedings arising from the deaths at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County, which shocked the country in 2023.
The 29 accused persons were convicted of 191 counts of murder on October 19, 2026, by Lady Justice Diana Kavedza after the court found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Kenya News Agency+1
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has urged the court to impose the death penalty on Mackenzie, arguing that the scale and gravity of the offences warrant the harshest punishment available under the law.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
During sentencing submissions, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina also asked the court to impose life imprisonment on 27 of the co-accused, citing the seriousness of their roles and the need to protect the public.
The prosecution further proposed consecutive sentences if the court declines to impose life imprisonment, arguing that each of the 191 deaths represents a separate murder offence. The Star+1
One of the convicted persons, Enos Amanya Ngala, had pleaded guilty to all 191 murder counts and was convicted on his own plea.
The prosecution asked the court to consider his plea-bargaining agreement, proposing a custodial rehabilitation programme lasting between 24 and 30 months, subject to periodic assessments.
The case arose from the discovery of mass graves and human remains in Shakahola Forest in 2023, prompting extensive investigations into the deaths linked to extreme fasting practices associated with Mackenzie's religious teachings.
The court's October judgment found that an organised system was used to enforce fasting among followers, with children among those targeted. Kenya News Agency+1
The sentencing is expected to determine the punishment for Mackenzie and the other 28 convicted persons.
Read the original article on Capital FM.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.
AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC.
To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you.
There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.