Kenyan court convicts cult leader Paul Mackenzie of 191 murder counts

A Kenyan court convicted preacher Paul Mackenzie and 28 accomplices of murdering 190 children and one adult through enforced starvation in the Shakahola forest cult case.

• Judge Diana Kavedza Mochachi said the prosecution proved the case against all 29 defendants at the Mombasa court on Monday.
• Mackenzie, who denied the charges, and his co-defendants face life sentences, with sentencing scheduled for November 6.
• Defense lawyer Lawrence Obonyo said his clients were surprised by the verdict and will appeal.
• More than 400 bodies have been exhumed from the Shakahola forest since the group was uncovered in 2023, with starvation the main cause of death.
• Eldest son Dan Mackenzie said his younger siblings were still being forcibly starved two weeks ago.
• After his report, police rescued eight children from their grandmother's house and took them to a rescue centre.